COLUMBIA  LIBRAHIES  OFF8ITE 

HEALm  sen  NCI  S  SIANfift  ^,1,, 


1X64093948 
R154.Ad1  Adi         Dr.  Owens-Adair;  sorn 


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Columbia  teibersfitp 
in  tfje  Citp  of  i^Eto  pork 

College  of  ^fjpgiciang  anb  burgeons 


l^eference  fJbvavp 


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in  2010  with  funding  from 

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DR.  OWENS-ADAIR 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences 


DEDICATION. 

To  my  beloved  mother,   I  dedicate  this,  the  first  child  of 

my  brain. 
"You,  too,  my  mother,  read  my  lines 
For  love  of  unforgotten  times ; 
And  you  may  chance  to  hear  once  more 
The  little  feet  along  the  floor." 


.  SALUTATORY. 

In  giving  this  book  to  the  pubhc,  I  have  a  two-fold  pur- 
pose— 

First :  A  desire  to  assist  in  the  preservation  of  the  early 
history  of  Oregon ; 

Second :  Through  the  story  of  my  life,  and  the  few  selec- 
tions from  my  earliest  and  later  writings — preserved  in 
newspaper  clippings, — I  have  endeavored  to  show  how  the 
pioneer  women  labored  and  struggled  to  gain  an  entrance 
into  the  various  avenues  of  industry,  and  to  make  it  re- 
spectable to  earn  her  honest  bread  by  the  side  of  her  brother, 
man. 

In  this  day  and  age  of  progress  and  plenty,  women  are 
found  in  all  the  pursuits  of  life,  from  the  cradle  to  the  grave, 
and  it  is  hard  now,  and  will  be  more  so,  for  women  a  century 
hence,  to  believe  what  their  privileges  have  cost  their  early 
mothers  in  tears,  anguish,  and  contumely,  as  they  ascended, 
step  by  step,  that  slippery  and  dangerous  highway,  clinging 
courageously  to  the  rope  and  tackle  of  progress,  taking  in 
the  slack  here  and  there,  never  flinching,  and  never  turning 
back.  Several  chapters  have  been  contributed  by  a  life-long 
friend. 


Mann   &  Beacb,   Printers,   92  First   St.,    Portland. 


GLEANINGS  FROM  A  PIONEER  WOMAN 
PHYSICIAN'S  LIFE. 

BY  B.    A.    OWENS-ADAIR,    M.    D. 

"Every  book  is  a  quotation,  and  every  house  is  a  quota- 
tion out  of  all  forests,  and  mines,  and  stone-quarries ;  and 
every  man  is  a  quotation  from  all  his  ancestors." — Emerson. 


CONTENTS. 


Pages. 

The  Story  of  My  Life 7-114 

The  I'crilous  Trip  of  the  Steamer  Roanoke 115-122 

Christmas  of  1905 — ^Mattie's  Diary — Mattic's  Last  Letter — 

In   Memoriam — A  Touching   Letter 123-140 

Sketch  of  Sarah  Damron  Owens — My  Mother's  Story — A 

Western  Wife   141-162 

Mrs.    Asenath    Glover    Hosford — Frances    O.    Goodell 

Adams     163-177 

Nancy    Irwin    Morrison — Sarah    Hurford    Jeffers — Mrs. 

Mary  Augusta  Gray    178-193 

Caroline  Childs  Van  Dusen — Esther  D'Armon  Taylor. .  .194-204 

Mrs.  Nancy  Welch— Mrs.  Polly  Hicks  McKean 205-212 

Mrs.  Rachel  Mylar  Kindred — Mrs.  Hannah  Pegg  Pease — 

Mrs.  Jerusha  Brennan  Wirt — Obituary  of  Mrs.  Susan 

Kimball  Wirt— Harriet  Kimball  Jewett 213-226 

Mrs.     Almira     Raymond — Margaret     Craven     Gearhart — 

Sketch    of.  Mrs.    W.    T.    Perry    and    Mrs.    Eldridge 

Trask — Philipina    Veith    Boelling — To    Portland    via 

Panama  47  Years  Ago— What  We  Need 227-241 

Address  Before  Pioneer  Society  of  Oregon 242-251 

John    Hobson^Colonel    James    Taylor — Captain    George 

Flavel— W.   W.    Parker— Captain   J.   W.   Munson— D. 

K.  Warren    .' 252-269 

Stephen  Fowler  Chadwick — His  Death — Letters  of  Hon. 

S.  F.  Chadwick  to  Dr.  Owens 270-282 

Letters  of  Hon.  Jesse  Applegate 283-300 

List  of  Clatsop  Pioneers — A  Roseburg  Personal  Parody — 

Experience  as  a  Nurse  301-307 

Valentines  Received  by  Dr.  Owens  Over  40  Years  Ago — 

A  Reminiscence  of  War  Time 308-318 

School    Life,    1862-3— School    Certificate— A    Few    of   Dr. 

Owens'  Early  Letters  to  Her  Son — Story  of  George — 

Reminiscences    of   Dr.   Adair   and   Her   Mother — Old 

Temperance   Songs    319-338 

Miss  Barton  Retired — Centennial  Celebration  of  Discov- 

er}'  of  Columbia  River — Poem  on  First  Trip  of  A.  & 

C.   R.   R.   to   Portland— Roosevelt 339-346 


Nomination  of  First  Woman  School  Superintendent  in 
Oregon  in  Multnomah  County — Office  Life — Letter 
From  Hon.  Tillmon  Ford — Early  Oregon  History — 
Mrs.  Michell,  the  Clatsop — Governors  of  Oregon — 
Letter  to  Jane  Weeden — Narrow  Escape  of  Victor 
From  Drowning    347-361 

Authorship — First  Articles  Written  for  Publication,  Date 
1870 — Influence  of  a  Cord  of  Wood — ^Co-Education — 
Letter  From  Prof.  McLean 362-372 

Press  Comments  on  Dr.  Adair's  Lecture  on  Women  as 
Physicians — Skating  as  an  Exercise — Story  of  a  Girl 
— A  Work  of  Charity — Habit  in  Forming  Character — 
Heredity  and   Hygiene    373-388 

Bands  of  Hope — Discipline  of  Children — Physical  Cul- 
ture     389-406 

Pilgrim  Mothers — Advancement  of  Women — Newspaper 
Comments — Extracts  From  Address  in  Defense  of 
National  W.  C.  T.  U 407-418 

Letter  to  Mrs.  W.  W.  Parker — Necessity  of  Educating 
Children  Scientifically — Meeting  at  Liberty  Hall, 
Astoria — Women  to  the  Front 419-431 

Prohibition — Women  Workers — Women  Urged  to  Attend 
the  Polls — Plea  for  Women  Political  Workers — No 
True    Woman's    Duty 432-452 

Answer  to  Criticism — "Our  Wandering  Boy"  Again — 
Anti  -  Saloon  Movement — Report  of  Interviews — 
Woman's  Influence  for  Evil — Chairman  Executive 
Committee — Report  to  National  Superintendent  of 
Heredity  and  Hygiene — Letter  from  Seymour  Con- 
don— Letters  to  Legislature — Address  to  Legisla- 
ture     453-470 

Address  Before  Women's  Congress,  Portland,  1896 471-478 

Royal  Mare,  Plebian  Foal — Race  Suicide — Man  Found  on 
the  Road — Will  Always  Love  'Em — Go  to  Bed  With 
the  Chickens— Ladies  Should  Ride  Astride 479-495 

Social   Life  and   Professional  Work — Lost  in   the   Fog — 

Night   Work — Legal    Commendation 496-506 

Address  of  Welcome  to  Washington  W.  C.  T.  U. — Ad- 
dress of  Presentation — Response  to  Toast — Address 
Before  Eastern  Star — Favors  Use  of  Knife — Mar- 
riage and  Divorce   507-523 

Dr.  Adams'  Surgical  Work — Dr.  Adair  Returns  to  Sunny- 
mead    524-530 

First  Recognition  of  Women  by  American  Medical  As- 
sociation—On the  Trail — Progress  of  Women 531-537 


/S^.  -4.  (a*^^-  ^^  ~j^a^^ 


DR.   OWENS-ADAIR 
Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences 


CHAPTER  I. 

The  Story  of  My  Life. 

I  was  born  February  7th,  18 10,  in  Van  Buren  county, 
Missouri,  being  the  second  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Sarah 
Damron  Owens. 

My  father  and  mother  crossed  the  plains  with  the  first 
emigrant  wagons  of  1843,  and  settled  on  Clatsop  plains, 
Clatsop  county,  Oregon,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia,  the 
wonderful  "RiA^er  of  the  West,"  in  sound  of  the  ceaseless 
roar  of  that  mightiest  of  oceans,  the  grand  old  Pacific. 
Though'  then  very  small  and  delicate  in  stature,  and  of  a 
highly  nervous  and  sensitive  nature,  I  possessed  a  strong 
and  vigorous  constitution,  and  a  most  wonderful  endurance 
and  recuperative  power.  These  qualities  were  inherited, 
not  only  from  my  parents,  but  from  my  grandparents,  as 
well.  My  grandfather  Owens  was  a  man  of  exceptional 
financial  ability.  He  had  a  large  plantation  in  Kentucky, 
and  owned  many  slaves,  and  many  stores  throughout  the 
state.  He  was  a  grandson  of  Sir  Thomas  Owens,  of  Wales, 
of  historic  fame. 

My  grandmother  Owens  was  of  German  descent ;  a  rather 
small,  but  executive  woman,  who  took  charge  of,  and  ably 
administered  the  affairs  of  the  plantation,  during  my  grand- 
father's absence,  which  was  most  of  the  time.  She  was  pre- 
cisely the  kind  of  woman  President  Roosevelt  most  admires ; 
— a  woman  of  energy,  industry,  and  capability  in  managing 
her  home  aft'airs,  and  the  mother  of  twelve  children,  all  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity,  married,  and  went  on  giving  vig- 
orous sons  and  daughters  to  this  young  and  growing  repub- 
lic. 


6  Dr.  Owens-Adair. 

My  grandfather  Damron  was  a  man  of  equal  worth.  He 
was  a  noted  Indian  fighter,  and  was  employed  by  the  Gov- 
ernment, during  its  wars  with  the  Shawnees  and  Delawares, 
as  a  scout  and  spy.  He  performed  many  deeds  of  remarka- 
ble bravery  and  daring,  one  of  which  was  the  rescue  of  i 
mother  and  five  children  from  the  Indians,  who  had  cap- 
tured them,  at  the  imminent  risk  of  his  own  life ;  in  recog- 
nition of  this  act  of  signal  bravery  the  Government  pre- 
sented him  with  a  handsome  silver-mounted  rifle,  worth 
three  hundred  dollars.  (The  detailed  account  of  this  ad- 
venture may  be  foimd  in  the  sketch  of  my  mother's  life,  on 
page—.) 

My  grandmother  Damron  was  my  grandfather's  second 
wife.  She  was  of  Irish  descent,  and  noted  for  her  great 
personal  beauty. 

My  father,  a  tall,  athletic  Kentuckian,  served  as  sheriff  of 
Pike  county  for  many  years,  beginning  as  a  deputy  at  the 
age  of  sixteen.  It  was  often  said  of  him :  "Thomas  Owens 
is  not  afraid  of  man  or  devil." 

My  mother  was  of  slight  build,  but  perfect  form,  with 
bright  blue  eyes,  and  soft  brown  hair.  She  weighed  but 
ninety-six  pounds  when  she  was  married,  at  the  age  of 
sixteen. 

My  earliest  recollection  reaches  back  to  the  first  step 
taken  by  my  brother,  Josiah  Parrish  Owens,  I  being  five 
years  old,  and  he  between  seven  and  eight  months.  It  was 
in  the  smooth,  cleanly  swept  back  yard,  on  a  soft,  warm  July 
afternoon.  Mother  sat  just  outside  the  door,  sewing.  My 
sister  Diana,  who  was  past  seven,  and  old  for  her  years,  and 
who  never  seemed  to  care  much  for  play,  (unlike  most  chil- 
dren,) sat  near  mother,  busy  with  her  patch-work.  My 
brother  Flem  (about  three)  and  I  were  playing  with  the 
baby.  In  his  infantile  glee  he  crept  away  from  us,  raised 
himself  on  his  feet,  and  looked  smiling  at  mother,  who  held 
out  her  arms,  when  he  toddled  to  her,  taking  at  least  a  dozen 


SoMii:  OF  IIkr  I>ikk  Rxpkriknces,  7 

steps,  before  she  caiiglil  him.  From  this  time  on,  he  never 
seemed  to  desire  to  creep.  J I  was  a  red-letter  day  to  us,  as 
our  baby,  named  for  Rev.  J.  L.  Parrish,  of  missionary  fame, 
was  the  pride  of  our  home.  My  brother  Flem,  two  years 
my  junior,  was  my  constant  companion.  He  j^rew  rapidly, 
and  soon  overtook  me  in  size,  as  I  was  small,  and  grew 
slowly,  but  I  was  tough  and  active,  and  usually  led  in  all 
our  pursuits  of  work  or  play.  Not  until  I  was  past  twelve, 
did  he  ever  succeed  in  throwing  me.  One  day  he  came  in 
the  kitchen,  where  I  was  washing  the  dinner  dishes  and, 
with  a  broad  smile  on  his  face  (he  was  such  a  good-natured 
boy !)  said  :  "Pap  told  me  to  go  to  the  barn  for  two  bundles 
of  oats  for  the  horses ;  now  the  first  one  that  is  thown  down 
must. go  for  the  oats." 

Instantly  the  dish-cloth  was  dropped,  and  we  clinched. 

I  had  noticed  for  some  time  that  he  was  gaining  on  me, 
but  I  could  not  refuse  to  take  a  "dare,"  and  he  had  not  yet 
thrown  me. 

Round, and  round  the  room  we  went,  bending  and  sway- 
ing, like  two  young  saplings,  till,  seeing  his  chance,  he  put 
out  his  foot  and  tripped  me.  I  fell  on  a  chair  w'hich  hap- 
pened to  be  in  the  way,  and  my  mouth  came  in  contact  with 
one  of  its  posts,  which  broke  off  a  piece  of  one  of  my  front 
teeth.  Poor  brother  picked  up  the  fragment  of  tooth,  burst 
out  crying,  and  ran  off  to  the  barn  for  the  oats. 

He  had  just  learned  this  new  accomplishment  in  wrest- 
ling, which  he  had  kept  secret  from  me,  to  his  life-long  re- 
gret, for  in  those  times  and  parts  dentistry  was  almost  an 
unknown  art.  It  was  at  least  eighteen  years  after  that  be- 
fore I  found  a  dentist  who  could  repair  the  injury.  Dr. 
Hatch,  of  Portland,  did  the  work,  and  I  was  more  than 
pleased  to  have  that  unsightly  gap  filled  in  with  shining 
gold.  The  rarity  of  such  an  artistic  piece  of  work  in  the 
mouth  added  to  its  attractiveness.  The  first  attempt,  by  the 
way,  was  a  failure,  the  filling  soon  becoming  loose ;  but  the 


8  Dr.  Owens-Adair. 

second  was  a  success,  and  was  still  perfect  when 'the  tooth 
was  extracted  thirty-five  years  later.  This  tooth  I  keep,  as 
a  souvenir  in  remembrance  of  that  particular  tussle  with  my 
dear,  good  brother; — ^not  the  last,  however,  by  any  means, 
for  we  were,  as  I  said,  constant  companions,  and  I  was  a 
veritable  "tom-boy,"  and  gloried  in  the  fact.  It  was  father's 
custom  to  pat  me  on  the  head,  and  call  me  his   'boy." 

The  regret  of  my  life  up  to  the  age  of  thirty-ti  ve,  was  that 
I  had  not  been  born  a  boy,  for  I  realized  very  early  in  life 
that  a  girl  was  hampered  and  hemmed  in  on  all  sides  simply 
by  the  accident  of  sex. 

Brother  and  I  were  always  trying  our  muscular  strength, 
and  before  I  was  thirteen,  I  bet  him  I  could  carry  four  sacks 
of  flour,  or  two  hundred  pounds.  I  stood  between  a  table 
and  a  box,  on  which  we  had  put  two  sacks  of  flour  each. 
Then  brother  placed  a  sack  of  flour  on  each  of  my  shoulders, 
and  held  them  steady,  while  I  managed  to  get  the  other  two 
sacks  (one  on  the  table  and  the  other  on  the  box  on  each 
side  of  me)  under  each  arm,  and  then  I  walked  triumph- 
antly off,  carrying  all  four  sacks!  In  that  memoiable  year 
of  1847,  after  the  shocking  Whitman  massacre,  my  father 
was  preparing  to  go,  with  other  Clatsop  volunteers,  to  fight 
the  Indians.  When  all  was  ready  for  his  departure,  as  he 
stood  in  the  midst  of  his  weeping  wife  and  children,  a  Mr. 
McDonald,  who  was  then  working  for  father,  stepped  for- 
ward and  said : 

"Mr.  Owens,  I  am  a  single  man,  and  have  no  one  to  care 
for  me,  but  I  am  poor.  Give  me  your  outfit,  and  money  for 
my  expenses,  and  I  will  go  in  your  place." 

Yielding  to  the  entreaties  of  his  family,  my  father  finally 
assent 'id,  and  Mr.  McDonald  went,  but  he  never  returned. 
He  was  killed,  I  think,  by  an  accident.  We  have  always 
remembered  him  gratefuly,  believing  that  he  may  have  saved 
our  father's  life  to  us ;  and  at  least,  he  freely  gave  his  own. 

I  was  the  family  nurse ;  and  it  was  seldom  that  I  had  not 


Some  of  Her  Life  Expehiences.  9 

a  child  in  my  arms,  and  more  cliniLcin^-  to  inc.  Where  there 
is  a  baby  every  two  years,  there  is  always  no  end  of  nursing 
to  be  done;  especially  when  the  mother's  time  is>  occupied, 
as  it  was  then,  every  moment,  from  early  morning  till  late 
at  night,  with  much  outdoor  as  well  as  indoor  work.  She 
seldom  found  time  to  devote  to  the  baby,  except  to  give  it 
the  breast. 

When  the  weather  was  fine  we  fairly  lived  out  of  doors, 
baby  and  all,  I  hauling  the  baby  in  its  rude  little  sled,  or 
cart,  which  bumped  along,  and  from  which  baby  was  often 
thrown  out,  but  seldom  seriously  hurt,  and  never  killed ; 
with  a  two-year-old  on  one  hip,  and  a  four-year-old  hanging 
to  my  skirts,  in  order  to  keep  up ;  but  more  often  on  brother 
Flem's  back ;  so  we  went,  playing  here,  and  working  there, 
during  all  the  pleasant  weather.  When  it  rained,  we  had 
access  to  the  barn,  where  we  could  swing,  play  "hide  and 
seek,"  and  slide  down  the  hay-mow,  from  the  top  to  the 
bottom.  Many  a  time  I  have  carried  the  children  to  the 
top,  from  where,  with  the  baby  in  my  arms,  and  the  two 
next  younger  clinging  to  me,  I  would  slide  to  the  bottom,  to 
their  great  delight. 

I  was  fond  of  hunting  hen's  nests,  which  I  seldom  failed 
to  find.  One  afternoon,  I  crawled  under  the  barn,  as  I  knew 
there  were  eggs  there.  The  ground  was  hard  and  smooth, 
and  so  near  the  barn-floor  that  moving-room  was  at  a  pre- 
mium. About  the  center  of  the  space,  I  found  a  nest  full 
of  eggs,  and  squeezed  under  till  I  could  reach  and  gather 
them  into  my  apron.  Then,  as  I  could  not  turn  around,  I 
began  to  slide  out  backward.  When  passing  a  sleeper,  a 
knot  in  it  caught  between  the  waistband  of  my  dress  and  the 
first  button  above.  Try  as  best  I  might,  I  could  not  get 
loose.  Brother  was  waiting  for  me  outside,  and  when  he 
found  I  could  not  possibly  extricate  myself,  he  ran  to  mother 
for  help.  Father  was  away  from  home.  iMother  saw  that 
the  only  way  to  release  me  was  to  break  the  button-hole 


10  Dr.  Owens-Adair. 

above  iny  belt.  L}'ing  wedged  in  there  on  my  face,  I  could 
not  reach  the  button,  or  break  either  the  button-hole,  or 
strong  belt.  The  barn  was  full  of  hay,  which  it  would  take 
several  men  at  least  a  day, — perhaps  more — to  remove  so  as 
to  get  down  to  the  middle  of  the  barn  floor ;  and  to  tunnel 
under  to  me  would  require  about  as  much  time  and  labor. 
So  she  told  me  to  push  and  work  myself  backward  and  side- 
wise.  I  obeyed,  and  after  long  and  persistent  effort,  I  suc- 
ceeded in  tearing  the  button-hole  out,  thus  enabling  me  to 
back  once  more  into  freedom  and  fresh  air.  After  I  got 
clear  of  the  sleeper,  I  rached  back  and  unbuttoned  all  my 
buttons,  to  make  sure  I  did  not  get  hung  up  again.  My  eggs 
were  near  by,  and  I  brought  them  out  with  me. 

That  was  not  the  last  time  I  crawled  under  that  barn  for 
eggs,  but  I  had  learned  a  lesson  never  to  be  forgotten,  for 
I  never  again  went  into  a  tight  place  like  that  without  pre- 
paring beforehand  to  leave  all  my  clothes  behind,  if  neces- 
sary,— that  is,  if  I  should  again  be  hung  up  on  a  knot  or  a 

peg- 
When  I  was  about  twelve  years  old,  a  teacher  by  the  name 
of  Beaufort  came  to  teach  a  three  months'  school  in  our 
neighborhood.  School-books  were  extremely  scarce,  and 
sometimes  whole  families  were  taught  out  of  one  book.  All 
the  children  over  four  years  old  attended  the  school,  for 
children  did  not  remain  babies  long  when  other  babies  came 
along  so  fast  and  croy^ded  them  out  of  the  cradle.  Boys 
and  girls  of  fourteen  and  fifteen  were  expected  to  do  a  full 
day's  work  on  the  farm  or  in  the  house,  and  even  the 
younger  ones  were  all  taught  to  be  helpful  and  useful,  and 
to  do  their  full  share  in  taking  care  of  themselves. 

The  new  teacher  was  a  fine,  handsome  young  man,  who 
held  himself  aloof  from  the  young  people  of  his  age,  and 
kept  his  person  so  clean,  neat  and  trim  that  the  country 
young  men  disliked  him. 

Mr.  Beaufort  boarded  at  our    house,    and    we    children 


SoMK  (;!•  IIku  I.ii-i-.  Experiences.  11 

walked  the  two  miles  to  school  with  him,  daily.  lie  was 
greatly  liked  by  the  children,  to  whom  he  was  most  kind, 
playing  with  them,  and  often  takinj^"  two  or  three  of  the  little 
tots,  or  as  many  as  could  hanji^  on,  and,  thus  hanrlicapped,  he 
would  run  races  with  the  older  children,  to  the  hilarious  joy 
of  the  little  youngsters,  who  thought  they  had  won  the  race. 

I  simply  worshiped  my  handsome  teacher,  who  taught  me 
how  to  run,  to  jump,  to  lasso,  to  spring  up  on  the  horse's 
back,  and  so  many  other  things  that  I  appreciated.  On  one 
occasion  there  was  a  picnic  at  our  house,  it  being  the  largest 
and  best  on  Clatsop  plains ; — and  while  there,  the  young  men 
began  to  joke  and  guy  the  young  teacher  about  his  white 
hands.     He  took  it  good-naturedly,  and  finally  said: 

"I  wi'U  bet  you  $200  in  cash,  my  watch  and  chain,  and  all 
I  have,  against  $100,  and  whatever  you  can  put  up,  that  I 
can  dig,  measure  and  stack  more  potatoes  than  any  other 
man  on  Clatsop." 

This  stirred  their  blood,  and  touched  their  pride,  and  his 
challenge  was  accepted.  He  was  to  dig,  measure  and  stack 
in  three  piles,  sixty  bushels  of  potatoes  in  ten  hours,  he  to 
select  his  ground  on  which  to  dig.  My  father  said  to  Le- 
grand  Hill,  who  was  then  working  for  him,  and  whom  I 
■married-  two  years  later :  "Now,  my  boy,  take  my  advice : 
don't  fool  away  your  summer's  work.  I  have  been  watching 
that  young  man,  for  three  months.  He  is  as  strong  as  a 
bear,  and  active  as  a  cat." 

But,  like  the  other  young  men  (and  some  of  the  older 
ones)  he  needed  no  advice.  He  bet  his  watch,  and  two 
hundred  bundles,  or  sheaves,  of  oats  on  the  issue. 

Mr.  Beaufort  selected  his  ground  in  Mr.  Jewett's  potato 
patch,  on  the  fr.rm  now  belonging  to  Mr.  Josiah  West,  near 
the  main  county  road.  The  day  before  the  contest,  he  had 
staked  out  his  ground,  and  smoothed  off  the  spots  on  which 
to  pile  his  potatoes. 

The  day  dawned  bright  and  beautiful,  and  found  every- 


12  Dr.  Owens-Adair. 

body  there,  including  men,  women,  children  and  Indians. 
All  brought  good  things  to  eat  for  luncheon,  and  came  to 
spend  the  day,  and  see  the  fun. 

Time-keepers  being  selected,  and  the  hour  being  near  at 
hand,  the  teacher  removed  his  coat,  vest,  and  long,  hand- 
some blue  silk  Spanish  scarf,  and  hung  them  on  the  fence. 
Suspenders  were  unknown  in  those  days.  He  then  loosened 
his  leather  belt,  and  taking  off  his  boots,  he  encased  his  feet 
in  a  pair  of  handsome  beaded  moccasins ;  then,  drawing  a 
pair  of  soft  buckskin  gloves  over  his  smooth  white  hands,  he 
picked  up  the  new  hoe,  from  the  handle  of  which  he  had 
sawed  off  about  half,  and  stepped  to  the  middle  of  the  plot, 
as  the  time-keeper  called  the  hour.  He  took  off  his  hat,  and 
made  a  graceful  bow  to  the  assembled  company.  Then, 
stepping  across  a  hill  and  standing  with  a  foot  on  each  side 
of  it,  he,  with  two  or  three  strokes  of  the  hoe,  laid  bare  the 
potatoes,  and  with  both  hands  scooped  them  up  into  his  half- 
bushel  measure. 

It  did  not  require  more  than  two  or  three  hills  to  more 
than  fill  the  measure.  Then,  with  a  few  elastic  leaps,  he 
emptied  them  on  one  of  the  places  he  had  prepared  for  them. 
For  two  or  three  hours  he  kept  the  tellers  busy  counting ; 
and  then  he  took  it  more  leisurely,  laughing  and  joking  as 
he  worked,  and  he  finished  his  task  long  before  night.  All 
the  beholders  were  fully  convinced,  after  the  first  hour's 
work,  that  the  stakes  were  his.  That  was  a  "red  letter"  day 
for  that  handsome  and  accomplished  young  teacher.  He 
had  "raked  in"  watches,  rings,  scarf-pins  and  about  all  the 
spare  money  the  young  men,_and  some  old  ones  in  that  set- 
tlement possessed. 

After  he  had  finished  his  sixty  bushels,  he  turned  several 
handsprings,  and,  reaching  the  fence,  he  put  his  hands  on 
the  top  rail,  and  sprang  over  with  one  bound. 

That  was  a  revelation  in  potato-digging  to  the  Clatsopites, 
who  all  dug  with  a  long-handled  hoe,  while  the  Indians  used 


SuMi':  ()!■■   Ili:i<   l.iM.   l''\i'i;i;ii':xcES.  l-i 

a  short  stick,  or  their  hands,  for  the  pur])ose,  at  the  same 
time  sitting-  or  crawhng  on  tlieir  hands  anrl  knees.  That 
was  the  last,  and  one  of  the  best  lessons  that  my  honored 
teacher  taught  on  Clatsop.  ITc  left  in  a  few  days  and  we 
never  heard  of  him  again,  but  his  memory  is  always  fresh 
in  my  mind.  He  was,  in  my  young,  crude,  and  it  might  be 
called  barren  life,  a  green,  flower-strewn  oasis,  with  a  foun- 
tain of  cool  water  in  its  midst. 

I  was  then  but  twelve  years  old ;  small,  but  perfect  in 
form,  health,  and  vigor.  Brother  Flem  towered  far  above 
me,  and  sister  Diana,  "The  Beauty  of  Clatsop,"  was  taller 
than  our  mother. 

My  love  for  my  handsome,  kind  and  intelligent  teacher 
knew  no  bounds.  Diana  said  I  was  always  "tagging  him 
around;"  and  mother  chided  mc  for  beings  so  rude,  saying, 
"You  ought  to  know  that  he  must  get  tired  of  you  and  the 
children  sometimes." 

However  I  found  many  oportunities  of  being  in  his  so- 
ciety, and  I  improved  them  all ;  especially  as  mother  was  so 
over-worked  she  was  only  too  glad  to  be  relieved  of  the  care 
of  the  baby,  and  the  two  other  smaller  children.  Taking  my 
brood,  I  would  seek  out.  my  friend,  who  invariably  met  me 
with  a  welcoming  smile,  for  he  had  learned  to  love  the  two 
tiny  girls,  and  the  big,  fat  baby,  who  warmly  returned  his 
affection. 

He  wotild  catch  up  one  of  the  older  little  ones,  toss  her 
above  his  head  in  such  a  way  that  she  would  rest  across  his 
shoulders,  with  her  little  arm  around  his  head.  Then  he 
would  take  the  baby  and  hug  it  close,  and,  picking  up  the 
other  little  midget,  under  his  other  arm,  we  would  be  oflf 
for  a  race.  And  how  we  all  enjoyed  it!  The  children  would 
scream  with  delight,  and  my  own  happiness,  though  less 
demonstrative,  was  no  less  deep.  We  often  went  to  the 
fields  where  father  was  plowing,  cultivating  or  haying-. 
Many  a  time  did  he  lift  me  lightly  to  the  back  of  the  near 


14  Dr.  Owens-Adair. 

horse,  hand  me  the  baby,  and  seating  one  of  the  others  be- 
hind me,  with  one  on  his  shoulder,  walk  beside  the  horse 
with  his  hand  reached  out  to  hold  us  from  falling.  Father 
liked  him,  too,  and  was  always  pleased  to  have  him  around. 

It  was  a  sad,  sad  day  when  he  left  us.  First,  he  bade 
father  and  mother  good-bye;  and  then  the  children.  He 
snatched  up  the  baby  from  the  floor,  tossed  her  up,  and 
kissed  her.  I  was  trying  to  keep  back  my  tears.  He  smiled 
down  on  me  with  his  handsome  blue  eyes,  and  said  to 
mother :  "I  guess  I'll  take  this  one  with  me." 

Mother  answered,  "All  right;  she  is  such  a  tom-boy  I 
can  never  make  a  girl  of  her,  anyway." 

He  took  my  little  hand  in  his,  and  I  went  with  him 
through  the  gate,  and  some  distance  down  the  road.  Then 
he  said :  "Now,  little  one,  you  must  go  back.  You  are  a 
nice  little  girl,  and  some  day  you  will  make  a  fine  woman; 
but  you  must  remember  and  study  your  book  hard,  and  when 
you  get  to  be  a  woman  everybody  will  love  ou ; — and  don't 
forget  your  first  teacher,  will  you?"  He  had  gathered  me 
up,  and  smiling,  kissed  me,  and  then  set  me  down  with  my 
face  toward  home.  I  ran  back,  and  seeing  the  children  on 
the  fence,  all  looking,  I  ran  off  around  the  back  of  the 
house,  and  hid,  and  cried  a  long  time.  Of  course  they  all 
laughed  at  me,  and  often  times  afterward,  when  I  was  es- 
pecially rebellious  and  wayward,  which  was  not  infrequently, 
I  would  be  confronted  with,  "I  wish  the  teacher  had  taken 
you  with  him,"  to  which  I  never  failed  to  answer  promptly 
and  fervently,  "I  wish  he  had,  too !" 


Some  of  Uek  LjiI':  J:lxi'i:i;iiiNCES.  15 


CHAPTER  II. 

About  this  time,  a  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCrary  moved  on  the 
adjoining  farm,  owned  by  a  Mr.  McDaniel,  a  bachelor. 

Their  httle  house  was  not  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
from  ours,  just  over,  and  beyond  a  pretty,  grassy  ridge.  I 
did  not  like  the  man,  but  I  fell  in  love  with  his  tall,  splendid 
wife.  She  was  quite  a  little  older  than  my  mother,  but  very 
different  from  her.  She  was  tall,  and  very  fair,  with  pleas- 
ant gray  eyes ; — not  pretty  in  form  or  features,  but  she  was 
one  of  the  most  admirable  and  beautiful  characters  I  have 
met  with  in  all  my  life.  To  me  she  looked  beautiful,  and  I 
loved  her  ardently.  No  child  could  have  loved  a  mother 
more  than  I  loved  this  pure,  noble  woman.  It  is  said  that 
"love  begets  love,"  and  it  surely  did,  in  this  case,  for  she 
returned  my  love  with  a  true  mother-love.  She  was  not 
blessed  with  children  of  her  own.  The  affection  between  us 
remained  unbroken  throughout  her  long  subsequent  life,  of 
nearly  fifty  years ;  and  now  I  can  realize,  looking  back,  that 
the  lovely  example  of  her  beautiful  life  has  had  much  to  do 
with  molding  my  own,  and  I  doubt  not,  the  characters  of 
many  of  those  around  her.  Their  worldly  goods  were  few 
when  they  settled  near  us,  but  she  made  the  most  of  what 
little  she  had, — only  two  small  rooms  scantily  furnished, — 
but  every  thing  in  them  was  kept  immaculate,  and  she,  with 
her  kind  words,  sweet  smiles,  and  winning  ways,  her  hair 
combed  smoothly  back  from  his  high,  prominent  forehead, 
an  ample  white  kerchief  crossed  and  pinned  smoothly  over 
her  bosom,  and  her  long,  checked  apron  ironed  without  one 
wrinkle,  fastened  trimly  about  her  waist,  was  a  fitting,  and 
charming  mistress  of  her  spotless  little  home. 

My  mother  was  a  neat  and  tasteful  woman,  but  she  said 


16  "  Dr.  Owens-Adair. 

M|rs.  McCrary  always  looked  as  if  she  had  "come  out  of  a 
band-box." 

It  was  my  habit  to  visit  my  friend  once  a  day ; — often  sev- 
eral times.  Whatever  might  be  my  task,  I  would  try  to 
finish  it  as  quickly  as  possible,  that  I  might  slip  off,  and  fly 
to  Mrs.  McCrary's.  It  did  seem  like  flying,  for  my  feet 
scarcely  touched  the  ground,  as  I  ran.  I  received  many 
scoldings,  for  running  off  thus,  without  permission,  and  was 
repeatedly  told  that  grown  people  did  not  want  to  be 
bothered  with  children,  but,  unless  I  was  positively  forbid- 
den, I  still  went. 

Mrs.  McCrary  seemed  always  so  glad  to  see  me,  and  had 
so  many  pretty  and  pleasant  things  to  say  to  me,  that  it  was 
no  wonder  I  was  drawn  so  strongly  to  her.  She  did  not 
visit  much,  and  never  gossiped.  She  was  a  reader,  but 
books  and  papers  were  very  scarce  in  those  days.  She  al- 
ways treated  me  as  if  I  were  a  little  lady  of  some  conse- 
quence. 

For  instance,  she  would  say: 

"Why,  your  visits  are  just  like  bright,  sparkling,  refresh- 
ing sunbeams  to  me." 

If  a  button  was  gone  from  my  dress,  or  apron,  a  pin  went 
into  its  place,  and  she  would  say: 

"Now,  that  looks  so  much  nicer!" 

Again  she  would  frequently  say: 

"I  am  just  going  to  comb  out  those  long,  pretty  braids 
of  yours ;"  and  she  would  take  down  my  hair,  which  came 
half  way  to  the  floor,  and  brush  and  comb  it,  and  then  take 
vibwn  the  little  mirror  from  the  wall,  and  hold  it  before  me, 
liurning  it  from  side  to  side,  so  that  I  could  see  how  long  and 
nice  it  was.  waving  over  my  shoulder,  saying:  "We'll  leave 
it  so  awhile,  it  makes  you  look  so  like  a  fairy." 

Sometimes  she  would  tell  me  a  fairy  story,  at  the  same 
time  showing  me  how  to  knit,  crochet^  or  sew.  All  this 
time  talking,  and  drawing  me  out,  correcting  my  mistakes 


Some  of  Hrk  I.ikk  Experiences.  17 

with  such  delicacy  that  even  my  super-sensitive  nature  was 
not  wounded.  She  infused  such  a  charm  into  everything 
she  did  and  said  that  I  was  not  only  interested,  but  most 
anxious  to  learn.  She  impressed  upon  my  mind  in  the  most 
positive  language  just  how  the  thing  should  be  done,  show- 
ing me  by  example,  at  the  same  time,  always  having  me  as- 
sist her  when  possible ;  invariably  excusing  my  blunders,  and 
praising  my  progress. 

Was  she  making  biscuits,  she  would  have  me  stand  by, 
while  she  showed  me  every  step  of  the  process.  First  she 
would  take  down  the  clean  board,  and  say:  "Now  you  take 
so  many  cups  of  sifted  flour,  so  many  cups  of  milk,  so  much 
butter,  so  much  salt,  so  much  soda  for  so  many  persons. 
When  you  knead  the  biscuits,  be  sure  you  do  not  put  the 
flour  too  near  the  edge  of  the  board,  or  it  will  get  on  the 
floor ;  and  stand  a  little  farther  back  from  the  table,  or  you 
will  get  your  apron  mussed." 

"Do  you  know,  I  have  seen  women  who  could  wear  one 
apron  all  the  week  and  then  it  would  not  be  as  soiled  as  that 
of  some  women  would  be  in  one  day.  That  shows  the  dif- 
ference betwen  a  neat  and  slovenly  person." 

"Some  people  always  have  a  place  for  everything,  and 
keep  things  where  they  belong,  while  others  keep  their 
things  hap-liazard,  and  never  know  where  to  find  them, — 
and  so  make  themselves  a  great  deal  more  work,  and  have  a 
much  harder  time  to  get  along.  You  will  never  be  that  kind 
of  a  person,  for  your  mother  is  a  good  housekeeper,  and  you 
will  grow  up  to  be  an  orderly  housekeeper,  too." 

Was  it  any  wonder  that  I  loved  that  wise,  good  woman? 
I  was  as  wax  in  her  hands,  and  could  I  have  been  under  her 
influence  until  I  had  reached  maturity,  instead  of  but  one 
year,  I  could,  and  would  have  escaped  many  of  the  sorrows 
and  hardships  of  my  life. 

Mr.  McCrary  soon  took  up  a  claim  on  Young's  river,  a 
part  of  which  is  now  known  as  "Greenwood  Cemetery,"  but 


18  .  Dr.  Owens-Adair. 

it  "was  then  quite  remote,  and  could  be  reached  only  by  boat. 

After  the  lapse  of  many  years,  on  my  return  to  Clatsop, 
I  heard  that  ]\Irs.  IMcCrary,  now  a  widow,  was  spending 
the  winter  in  Astoria,  and  I  embraced  the  first  opportunity 
to  visit  her.  Oh,  what  a  joyful  meeting  was  ours !  And 
with  what  interest  and  emotion  did  we  recall  and  rehearse 
the  past ! 

She  was  the  same  grand  woman.  Hardships  and  griefs — • 
of  which  she  had  suffered  many — seemed  to  have  made  her 
more  lovely  and  saintly.  She  said  to  me :  "Well,  I  am 
getting  old,  but  you  are  young,  and  fresh,  with  the  bloom 
and  beauty  of  womanhood  upon  you,  and  yet  I  can  see  much 
to  remind  me  of  the  little  bare-footed  girl  who  brought  me 
so  much  pleasure  the  year  I  lived  near  your  father's;"  and 
she  laughed  happily. 

Again  we  parted;  and  year  after  year  came  and  went.  I 
became  a  physician,  married  a  second  time,  and  went  to  live 
on  our  Sunnymead  farm  in  Clatsop  county.  One  dark 
night  a  messenger  came  with  a  lantern,  saying  that  Mrs. 
McCrary  was  suffering  dreadfully  from  an  abscess,  and 
wanted  me.  Would  I  go  ?  Yes,  by  every  fond  recollection ; 
— by  every  tie  of  gratitude  and  aff'ection — most  assuredly 
I  would  go!  And  a  walk  of  one  mile  over  a  rough  tide-land 
road  brought  us  to  the  Lewis  and  Clarke  river,  which  we 
had  to  cross  in  a  boat,  to  where  a  horse  was  awaiting  us. 
Then  three  miles  farther,  and  we  were  at  our  destination.  I 
first  adminisiered  an  opiate;  then  lanced  the  ulcers,  and  ap- 
plied a  hot  poultice  and  a  hot-water  bag,  and  shq  was  soon 
comfortable  and  free  from  pain :     Then  she  said : 

"Oh,  how  good  God  is,  to  send  you  to  me  in  my  trouble; 
and  I  do  not  regret  my  sickness,  since  it  brought  you  here. 
I  want  you  to  get  right  in  bed  with  me.  I  am  ashamed  to 
be  so  selfish  as  not  to  let  you  sleep  in  another  room,  after 
this  long,  hard  trip,  but  if  you  had  given  me  a  bushel  of 


Some  of  Her  Lifh  ExrKKiisNCES.  19 

opiates  I  could  not  sleep,  I  am  so  hunj^ry  for  a  good,  long 
talk." 

"Do  not  for  a  moment  think,"  I  rci)licd,  "that  you  are 
dejM-iving  me  of  anything,  for  I  am  quite  as  anxious  as  you 
are  for  such  a  talk" ;  and  we  did  talk,  from  2  a.  m.  till 
breakfast  the  next  morning,  living  over  much  of  our  past 
lives  from  my  early  childhocxl. 

A  year  or  so  later,  she  came  to  Clatsop  to  visit  her  friends, 
the  Carnahans,  who  now  own  my  father's  old  donation  land- 
claim. 

While  there,  she  had  a  severe  attack  of  pneumonia,  and, 
for  a  time,  I  despaired  of  her  life ;  but  she  calmly  said : 

"I  know  my  time  has  come.  I  am  ready  and  anxious  to 
go ;  for  I  have  lived  beyond  my  usefulness.  You  are  doing 
all  you  can,  and  I  do  not  blame  you,  but  I  feel  that  I  ought 
to  go  now." 

But  her  time  was  not  yet  come,  and,  after  many  weeks, 
she  made  a  good  recovery,  and  went  to  Portland,  Oregon,  to 
live  with  her  adopted  son,  Capt.  Kane  Olney,  w^hom  she 
took,  in  infancy,  and  raised  him  to  manhood. 

I  saw  her  frequently  afterward,  when  I  was  in  Portland, 
and  in  1899,  before  removing  to  North  Yakima,  Wash.,  I 
called  to  say  good-bye  to  her.  I  found  her  reading  the  Ore- 
-/onian.  On  seeing  me,  she  rose  to  her  feet  at  once,  and  met 
me  with  her  old,  gracious,  heart-warming  smile. 

"I  see  you  are  reading  the  Oregonian,"  I  said. 

"Yes,"  she  said,  "I  spend  much  of  my  time  in  reading.  If 
I  only  could  remember  what  I  read!  My  memory,  you 
see,  is  only  half-way  across  the  floor.  That  is  just  about 
the  length  of  it  now." 

"Never  mind  your  present  memory,"  I  reassured  her, 
"your  past  will  not  desert  you,  and  the  good  you  have  done 
in  this  W'Orld  wdll  linger  long  after  you  and  I  have  been  laid 
to  rest." 

This  pleasant,  cheerful  way  in  which  she  alluded  to  her 


20  Dr.  Owens-Adair. 

loss  of  memory  illustrates  the  wonderful  charm  and  beauty 
with  which  she  invested  life ;  so  that  all  its  rough,  unsightly, 
and  annoying  features  were  sure,  under  her  sunny  way  of 
meeting  and  presenting  them,  to  become  less  disagreeable, 
and  often  even  perfectly  charming.  That  was  the  last  time 
I  ever  saw  that  grand,  noble  woman, — one  of  God's  master- 
pieces. Her  walk  in  life  was  lowly,  but  sunshine  and 
flowers  followed  her  and  illumined  her  pathway,  and  it  could 
be  truly  said  of  her  that  no  one  ever  came  in  contact  with 
her  without  being  made  better. 

A;i  amusing  little  occurrence  took  place  when  I  was  just 
past  thirteen.  Father  had  working  for  him  at  the  time  a 
diminutive,  stuttering  Englishman. 

This  man  had  been  trying  to  make  love  to  me  for  some 
time,  and,  notwithstanding  my  scornful  rejection  of  his  at- 
tentions, and  positively  rude  treatment  of  him,  he  persisted 
in  them. 

One  morning  I  was  washing.  For  heating  water,  and 
boiling  the  clothes,  we  used  a  huge  pot,  which  hung  on  a 
crane,  in  the  big,  open  fire-place,  in  a  room  used  for  wash- 
ing, and  as  a  general  store-room.  Under  the  open  stairway 
were  several  partly  filled  barrels  of  cranberries,  and  other 
articles.  That  little  imp,  knowing  I  was  there,  and  watch- 
ing his  opportunity,  slipped  up  behind  me,  as  I  was  stirring 
down  the  clothes  with  a  long  broom-handle,  and,  catching 
me  around  the  waist,  hugged,  and  tried  to  kiss  me,  and  then 
he  jumped  back  and  laughed  triumphantly,  endeavoring  to 
escape  by  the  open  door ;  but,  like  a  tiger,  I  leaped  between 
him  and  the  door,  giving  him  such  a  whack  with  the  broom- 
handle  that  he  staggered,  and  rushed  under  the  stairs,  and 
plunged  his  head  into  the  cranberry  barrel,  thus  presenting 
a  fair  field  for  the  strokes  which^  in  my  fury,  I  laid  on 
thick  and  fast,  with  all  the  strength  I  possessed.  He 
screamed,  and  mother,  hearing  the  disturbance,  ran  down 
stairs,  and  had  to  actually  pull  me  off  by  main  strength. 


SoMic  OF  IJkk  LikI':  TCxtkhiicnces.  21 

When  he  got  his  head  out  of  the  harrel,  he  sputtered  and 
stammered,  and  could  not  utter  a  single  coherent  word. 
In  towering  contempt,  I  exclaimed:  "You  little  skunk,  if 
you  ever  dare  come  near  me  again,  I'll  kill  you !" 

About  this  time  another  occurrence  happened  that  made 
a  lasting  impression  on  my  mind. 

One  bright  morning  a  young  farmer  about  27  years  old 
came  rushing  excitedly  up  with  his  coat  on  his  arm,  to 
mother,  who  was  in  the  back  yard,  saying : 

"Where  is  Tom  Owens?" 

Mother  asked:  "What  do  you  want  of  him?  He  is  not 
here." 

"I  want  him !"  he  vociferated,  "And  I  intend  to  whip  him 
within  an  inch  of  his  life." 

He  was  a  large  fellow,  as  tall  as  father,  and  much  heavier. 

Mother  said:  "Now,  Luke,  go  home,  and  get  over  your 
mad  fit;  Owens  has  never  done  you  any  harm.  But  I  tell 
you  if  you  do  get  him  roused,  he  will  beat  you  half  to  death, 
and  I  don't  want  to  see  you  get  hurt."  But  he  had  no  no- 
tion of  gfetting  hurt. 

Just  then  ■  we  saw  father  coming  up  the  road  on  horse- 
back. Luke  saw  him,  too,  and  started  for  him,  mother 
calling,  and  begging  him  to  come  back,  but  he  rushed  on. 
The  children  were  terribly  frightened,  and  began  to  cry. 
Mother  said :  "Stop  your  crying.  Your  father  is  not  going 
to  be  hurt."  She,  however,  walked  out  with  us  to  where 
we  could  see  and  hear  everything.  Father  stopped  his  horse, 
and  Luke,  throwing  down  his  coat,  began  gesticulating, 
swearing,  and  daring  father  to  get  down  and  fight  him,  but 
father  sat  calmly  on  his  horse  and  said : 

"Now,  Luke,  you  are  only  a  boy ;  you  don't  know  what 
you  are  doing ;  go  home,  and  let  me  alone.  I  don't  want  to 
hurt  you." 

At  this,  Luke  sprang  at  him,  calling  him  a  coward,  and 
attempting  to  pull  him  off  his  horse,  but  before  he  could 


22  Dr.  Owens-Adair. 

catch  his  foot,  father  was  off  his  horse  on  the  opposite  side, 
and  giving  the  bridle  a  pull,  turned  the  horse  from  him ;  and 
the  first  thing  he  did,  when  Luke  came  lunging  at  him,  was 
to  knock  him  down  with  a  single  blow.  Then  he  held  him 
down,  and  choked  him  till  he  cried  "Enough !"  when  father 
released  him,  saying :  "Go  to  the  house  and  wash  and  clean 
yourself  up ;  my  wife  will  give  you  water  and  towels."  Luke 
lost  no  time  in  obeying,  and  mother  brought  water  and 
towels,  and  assisted  him.  His  nose  was  bleeding  profusely, 
and  he  was  covered  with  blood,  but  he  was  not  half  so  badly 
hurt  as  he  was  scared. 

Mother  said,  "Well,  Luke,  I  am  very  sorry  you  did  not 
take  my  advice.     I  knew  you  would  get  hurt." 

He  was  very  penitent,  and  much  humiliated,  and  when 
father  came  up,  bringing  his  coat,  and  assisted  him  in  put- 
ting it  on,  they  shook  hands,  and  were  friends  ever  after. 

It  afterward  transpired  that  some  of  the  neighbors,  know- 
ing him  to  be  a  bragging  bully,  and  thinking  he  needed  a 
taking  down,  had  put  him  up  to  coming,  by  telling  him  that 
Mr.  Owens  had  said  he  had  stolen  something. 

In  1853,  finding  that  his  G40  acres  on  Clatsop  could  no 
longer  supply  feed  for  his  rapidly  increasing  herds,  father 
decided  to  remove  to  Southern  Oregon,  where  he  could  have 
an  abundance  of  range  for  them. 

He  at  once  set  about  building  a  large  flat-boat,  or  scow, 
in  which  to  move  his  family,  household  goods,  and  what 
stock  he  could  not,  or  did  not  wish  to  sell. 

In  the  fall,  after  the  crops  were  ha.rvested,  and  everything 
disposed  of  that  we  did  not  want  to  move,  father  shipped  his 
cattle  and  horses  to  St.  Helens,  and  sent  them  on  by  the 
trail,  to  the  valley.  He  then  returned,  and  moved  the  family 
and  our  teams  to  Portland,  then  a  very  small  town  on  the 
Willamette  river. 

After  disposing  of  the  boat,  we  loaded  up  the  two  wagons, 
and  were  ready  to  start  for  the  valley.     It  had  been  raining, 


Some  of  IIf.r  Liki-:  Exi'ichiences.  23 

and  I  well  remember  what  a  terrific  time  we  had  petting 
throug-h  the  dense  timber  west  and  south  of  Portland,  father 
leading-,  driving  one  team,  and  mother  following,  with  the 
second.  Mr.  John  Hobson,  my  l)rother-in-law,  had,  mean- 
time, gotten  the  horses  and  cattle  through  the  timber,  and, 
leaving  the  other  men  to  herd  them,  on  good  jjasturage, 
came  back  and  met  us  in  the  woods,  for  which  we  were  very- 
thankful.  We  came  up  with  the  herd  near  the  Burton  place, 
in  North  Yamhill,  the  next  day,  and  bidding  Mr.  Hobson 
and  one  of  the  other  two  men  good-bye,  we  proceeded  on 
to  Roseburg,  arriving  there  without  mishap. 

Brother  Flem  and  I,  with  the  assistance  of  one  man,  who 
was  not  half  equal  to  either  one  of  us  for  the  purpose,  drove 
the  herd. 

Father  said  we  were  worth  more  than  any  two  men  he 
could  hire.  There  was  an  abundance  of  grass ;  the  weather 
was  fine,  and  this  part  of  the  journey  was  really  a  picnic  for 
us  all. 

Upon  leaving  home,  I  had  insisted  upon  taking  my  big 
cat,  Tab,  against  the  judgment  of  my  parents.  After  a  good 
deal  of  argument,  and  many  tears  on  my  part,  I  carried  my 
point,  and  Tab  went  with  us.  After  getting  well  on  our 
way,  I  let  him  out  when  we  made  camp,  putting  him  in  the 
covered  wagon,  and  fastening  down  the  cover  when  we  were 
ready  to  start  again. 

One  morning  the  horses  had  strayed  off,  and  father  sent 
me  after  them.  When  I  returned  with  them,  everything  was 
packed,  ready  to  leave,  and  I  forgot  Tab.  We  had  gone  per- 
haps a  mile,  when  I  thoug'ht  of  him,  and  rushing  back  to 
mother's  wagon,  I  asked  if  she  had  put  him  in.  No,  she 
had  not  thought  of  him,  or  seen  him. 

Without  another  word,  I  put  whip  to  my  horse,  and  gal- 
loped back  to  camp,  but  no  Tab  was  to  be  found.  I  rode  up 
and  down  the  pretty  little  stream  calling  for  Tab,  but  saw- 
no  signs  of  him,  and  with  sad  heart,  and  wet  eyes,  I  rode 


24  Dr.  Owens-Adair, 

ahead,  and  overtook  the  wagons.  When  we  stopped  at 
noon,  mother  sent  me  to  the  wagon  for  something,  and  as  I 
unfastened  and  hfted  the  cover,  what  did  I  see  but  my  big, 
beautiful,  beloved  Tab,  ready  to  greet  me  with  an  affection- 
ate "Meouw !" 

From  that  time  on,  he  always  crawled  into  the  wagon  of 
his  own  accord,  when  the  horses  were  being  hitched  on  pre- 
paratory to  starting.  He  enpoyed  the  trip  as  well  as  any 
of  us.  On  reaching  Roseburg,  we  found  our  old  friend  and 
neighbor  Mr.  Perry  had  a  house  all  ready  for  us,  and  we 
moved  right  in.  Father  took  up  a  claim  just  across  the 
Umpqua  river,  from  the  then  little  village  of  Roseburg.  This 
gave  him  a  wide  scope  of  range  for  all  his  stock. 

He  at  once  bought  lumber  for  a  good  house,  and  began 
hauling  it  on  the  building-spot,  in  order  to  be  ready  to  build 
early  in  the  spring.  Then,  during  the  winter,  he  built  a 
ferry-boat  for  his  own  accommodation,  and  that  of  the  pub- 
lic. As  the  river  could  not  be  forded  during  a  part  of  the 
year,  and  was  really  dangerous,  the  ferry  was  quite  a  source 
of  revenue  to  us.  During  the  winter,  Mr.  Hill  came  to  visit 
us.  His  parents  and  their  family  had  come  to  Oregon  the 
year  before,  and  settled  in  the  Rogue  River  valley,  near  the 
Siskiyou  mountains. 

It  was  now  arranged  that  we  should  be  married  the  next 
spring,  when  father's  house  was  far  enough  completed  to 
move  in.  During  the  winter  and  early  spring,  I  put  in  all 
my  spare  time  in  preparing  for  my  approaching  marriage. 
I  had  four  quilts  already  pieced,  ready  for  the  lining; 
mother  had  given  me  the  lining  for  them  all,  and  the  cotton 
for  two.  I  carded  wool  for  the  other  two,  and  we  quilted 
and  finished  them  all.  She  also  gave  me  muslin  for  four 
sheets,  two  pairs  of  pillow-cases,  two  tablecloths,  and  four 
towels.  I  cut  and  made  two  calico  dresses  for  myself,  and 
assisted  mother  in  the  making  of  my  wedding  dress,  which 
was  a  pretty,  sky-blue  figured  lawn. 


SOMI':    (JF    IJeK    I.IKK    JixriCJtlKNCES.  25 

I  had  evcrythinjTf  done,  and  neatly  folded  away  lonj^  be- 
fore the  wedding-  day  arrived.  Mr.  Hill  eame  early  in  April, 
and  assisted  us  in  moving  into  the  new  house. 

On  May  4th,  1854,  with  only  our  old  friends,  the  Perrys, 
and  the  minister  present,  beside  our  own  family,  we  were 
married.  I  was  still  small  for  my  age.  My  husband  was 
five  feet  eleven  inches  in  height,  and  I  could  stand  under  his 
outstretched  arm.  I  grew  very  slowly,  and  did  not  reach 
my  full  stature  until  I  was  25  years  old,  which  is  now  5  feet 
4  inches. 


26  Dr.  Owens-Adair. 


CHAPTER  III. 


Just  prior  to  our  marriage,  Mr.  Hill  had  bought  a  farm 
of  320  acres  on  credit,  four  miles  from  my  father's  home, 
for  $600,  to  be  paid  for  in  two  years. 

The  improvements  on  it  consisted  of  a  small  cabin,  12x14 
in  dimensions,  made  of  round  logs,  with  the  bark  on  them, 
each  notched  deeply  enough  at  its  end  to  dovetail  into  its 
neighbors  above  and  below  it.  The  cracks  still  remaining 
after  this  rude  fitting  were  filled  with  mixed  mud  and  grass, 
but  this  cabin  had  never  yet  been  "chinked."  It  was  covered 
with  "shakes''  (thick,  hand-made  shingles  three  feet  long), 
which  were  kept  in  place  by  poles,  tied  down  at  each  end. 
The  door  was  so  low  that  a  man  had  to  stoop  to  go  in  and 
out,  and  it  was  fastened  with  the  proverbial  latch  and  string. 
The  cabin  had  neither  floor  nor  chimney,  and  the  wide 
cracks  admitted  both  draughts  and  vermin.  Later  I  gathered 
grass  and  fern,  mixed  them  with  mud,  and  filled  these 
cracks,  thus  shutting'  out  the  snakes  and  lizards,  which 
abounded  in  that  region,  and  which  had  made  me  frequent 
and  alarming  visits.  The  window  consisted  of  two  panes 
of  glass  set  in  an  opening  made  by  sawing  out  a  section  of 
one  of  the  logs  for  that  purpose. 

About  twelve  acres  of  land  were  fenced,  and  had  been 
seeded  to  oats  and  wheat  for  one  or  two  years.  A  rough, 
open  shed  sufficed  to  shelter  six  or  eight  head  of  stock,  and 
surrounding  it  was  a  corral  for  milking  cows,  and  a  calf-pen 
adjoining  it. 

Our  furniture  consisted  of  a  pioneer  bed,  made  by  boring 
three  holes  in  the  logs  of  the  wall  in  one  corner,  in  which 
to  drive  the  rails.  Thus  the  bedstead  required  but  one  leg. 
The  table  was  a  mere  rough  shelf,  fastened  to  the  wall,  and 


SoiviK  oi'-  lli'-.K  Ltke  Experiences,  27 

supported  by  two  lcj:^s.  Three  smaller  shelves  answcrerl  for 
a  cupboard,  and  were  amply  sufficient  for  my  slender  supply 
of  dishes,  which  com])rised  mostly  tinware,  which,  in  those 
days,  was  kept  scrupulously  bri.c:ht  and  shininf,^  My  sugar- 
bowl,  cream  jug',  steel  knives  and  forks  (two-tincd)  and  one 
set  of  German  silver  teaspoons,  I  had  bought  with  my  own 
little  savings  before  my  marriage. 

My  cooking  utensils  were  a  pot,  tea-kettle  and  bake-oven 
(all  of  iron),  a  frying-pan  and  coffee-pot,  a  churn,  six  milk 
pans,  a  wash  tub  and  board,  a  large  twenty  or  thirty-gallon 
iron  pot  for  washing  purposes,  etc.,  and  a  water  bucket  and 
tin  dipper.  All  these  things,  including  a  full  supply  of  gro- 
ceries, I  got  on  my  father's  account,  as  he  had  told  me  to  go 
to  the  store  and  purchase  what  I  wanted.  This  I  did  in  the 
afternoon  of  my  wedding  day,  the  ceremony  having  taken 
place  at  10  a.  m.  He  also  gave  me  a  fine  riding  mare. 
Queen  (my  saddle  I  had  already  earned  long  before),  one 
fresh  cow  a.nd  a  heifer  calf,  which  I  selected ;  also  one  cow 
which  would  be  fresh  in  the  early  fall,  and  a  wagon  and  har- 
ness. In  addition,  mother  gave  me  a  good  feather  bed,  and 
pillows,  a  good  straw  bed,  a  pair  of  blankets  and  two  extra 
quilts.  My  husband's  possessions  were  a  horse  and  saddle, 
a  gun,  and  less  than  twenty  dollars  in  money;  but  I  consid- 
ered this  a  most  excellent  start  in  life.  I  knew  wdiat  my 
father  and  mother  had  done,  and  I  then  believed  that  my 
husband  was  the  equal  of  any  man  living. 

The  late  Hon.  John  Hobson,  Collector  of  Customs  at 
Astoria,  once  said  to  me : 

"Your  father  could  make  money  faster  than  any  man  I 
ever  saw.  He  came  here  in  1843.  with  fifty  cents  in  his 
pocket,  and  I  do  not  think  there  was  one  hundred  dollars  in 
the  whole  county  (Clatsop),  and  in  less  than  ten  years  he 
was  worth  over  twenty  thousand  dollars." 

Consequently,  I  had  high  hopes  and  great  expectations  for 
the  future.     Mv  husband  was  a  strong,  healthv  man ;  I  had 


28  Dr.  Ovvens-Adair. 

been  trained  to  work,  and  bred  to  thrift  and  economy,  and 
everything  looked  bright  and  beautiful  to  me.  My  soul 
overflowed  with  love  and  hope,  and  I  could  sing  the  dear  old 
home-songs  from  morning  to  night.  My  happy,  buoyant 
nature  enabled  me  to  enjoy  anything, — even  cooking  out  of 
doors,  over  a  smoky  fire,  without  even  a  covering  over  my 
head ;  for  at  first  we  had  neither  fireplace  nor  stove. 

It  was  sweet,  smiling  spring, — the  season  that  I  loved 
best.  The  hills  were  bedecked  with  the  loveliest  wild  flow- 
ers, for  the  variety  and  abundance  of  which  the  Umpqua 
valley  is  especially  noted. 

And  yet,  from  a  child  I  was  practical  and  methodical.  I 
had  everything  packed,  and  ready  to  move  to  my  new  home 
as  soon  as  we  were  married,  and  I  insisted  on  going  there  the 
next  morning,  knowing  that  the  garden  ought  to  be  in. 
Within  a  few  days  it  was  planted. 

We  depended  on  wild  game  for  meat,  and  as  my  husband 
was  a  good  marksman,  he  kept  us  well  supplied.  I  always 
went  with  him,  and  we  never  came  home  empty-handed.  He 
often  killed  two  grouse  from  one  tree  by  shooting  the  under 
bird  first.  The  upper  one  seldom  flew,  and  the  hunter  could 
bag  it  at  the  next  shot.  This  seems  to  be  a  characteristic  of 
the  grouse.  It  is  not  startled  by  the  sound  of  the  gun's  dis- 
charge, but  if  the  upper  bird  is  killed,  its  fall  alarms  those 
under,  who  immediately  take  to  flight.  I  have  myself  seen 
hunters  who  kno^-  this  fact  kill  three  grouse  in  one  tree  by 
shooting  the  lower  ones  first. 

Mr.  Hill  was  always  ready  to  go  hunting,  no  matter  what 
work  was  pressing  to  be  done. 

One  evening  he  proposed  a  deer-hunt,  so  next  morning  we 
were  ofif  early.  He  decided  to  go  to  the  top  of  the  highest 
hill,  as  the  wind  coming  from  that  direction  would  bear  away 
our  scent ;  so  we  rode  our  horses  as  far  up  as  we  could,  and 
then  staked  them  on  good  grass,  and  proceeded  on  foot  to  a 
point  where  he  said  we  were  sure  to  find  deer.     When  near 


Some  of  Hkr  Lifk  Expkiiiences.  29 

the  summit,  wc  crept  with  f,n-cat  caution,  and  peeped  over. 
Sure  enough !  There,  basking  in  the  heat  of  the  day,  in  the 
shade  of  the  noble  oak  trees  on  that  gentle,  grassy  slope,  was 
a  band  of  the  soft-eyed  beauties. 

All  save  one  were  lying  down ;  while  the  king  of  the  herd 
stood  quietly  by,  leisurely  chewing  his  cud,  with  his  head 
toward  us,  all  unconscious  that  his  last  hour  had  come. 

We  were  behind  a  large  tree,  and  my  husband  rested  his 
rifle  on  one  of  its  limbs,  and  took  deliberate  aim.  At  the 
click  of  the  trigger,  the  royal  buck  sprang  into  the  air,  and 
fell  dead.  The  herd  was  thrown  into  consternation ;  and,  as 
the  wind  blew  from  them  to  us,  they  bounded  toward  us.  In 
an  instant  the  gun  was  re-loaded,  aimed,  and  a  graceful  doe 
succumbed.  I  now  entreated  that  he  shoot  no  more,  and  as 
it  was  then  past  noon,  and  we  were  a  long  way  from  home, 
he  assented.  We  first  went  down  to  the  big  buck,  and  soon 
dismembered  him,  and  cut  ofif  his  head.  After  spending 
much  time,  and  hard  labor  in  tugging  and  pulling,  we  at  last 
got  him  to  the  top  of  the  hill,  after  which  it  was  an  easy  task 
to  carry  the  small  deer  up.  Then  we  started  down  the  long 
hill,  he  with  the  large  animal,  and  I  with  the  small  one.  In 
time  we  reached  the  horses,  on  which  we  lashed  the  car- 
casses. Then  we  led  the  horses  to  the  foot  of  the  hill,  where 
we  loaded  both  deer  on  one  horse,  and  rode  home  ourselves 
on  the  other,  getting  home  at  dark.  The  early  morning  of 
the  next  da}-  was  spent  in  skinning  and  salting  the  meat. 
Then,  taking  the  two  large  hams,  we  lost  no  time  in  riding 
over  to  father's  for  dinner,  eager  to  tell  of  and  talk  over  our 
hunting  exploit.  We  well  knew  how  much  father  and 
mother  would  enjoy  the  juicy  steaks  from  those  toothsome 
hams.  Good  coffee,  hot  buttermilk  biscuits,  or  corn  bread 
and  fried  venison,  with  cream  gravy,  and  potatoes,  was  the 
favorite  breakfast  (or  any  other  meal)  of  the  southern  man, 
and  a  hunter's  delight.  ]My  mother  was  a  cook  worthy  the 
name.     Breakfast  foods  were  then  unknown,  and  as  little 


30  Dr.  Owens-Adair. 

needed,  as  such  a  thing  as  a  dyspeptic  was  never  heard  of, 
and  the  word,  even,  was  scarcely  comprehended. 

In  the  beginning  of  our  married  hfe,  my  father  had  ad- 
vised my  husband  to  begin  at  once  to  fell  trees,  and  hew 
them,  and  put  up  a  good  house  before  winter  set  in.  There 
was  an  abundance  of  suitable  timber  on  our  land,  near  by, 
but  he  was  never  in  any  hurry  to  get  down  to  work.  In  one 
way  and  another  he  managed  to  idle  away  the  summer, 
going  to  camp-meetings,  reading  novels,  and  hunting. 

In  September,  when  the  mornings  and  evenings  grew 
cold,  we  bought  an  old,  second-hand  stove,  for  $8.50,  which 
we  put  up  in  one  corner  of  the  cabin.  This  was  an  inex- 
pressible comfort  to  me.  Soon  after  this,  we  had  a  heavy 
rain,  lasting  all  one  day  and  night.  The  following  morning 
our  house  was  flooded,  and  in  one  corner  the  water  was  bub- 
bling up  like  a  spring.  This  came  from  a  gopher's  hole.  I 
have  seen  water  spouting  out  of  hillsides  for  days  after  a 
hard  rain,  due  to  gopher  channels. 

Our  cabin  stood  on  a  hillside,  and  the  water  was  seeping 
and  streaming  down  on  us  from  the  hill  above.  In  order  to 
protect  ourselves  from  it,  we  were  forced  to  dig  a  ditch  on 
the  upper  side  of  the  house,  the  bottom  of  which  was  below 
the  foundation  log ;  and  thus  the  water  was  successfully  car- 
riew  away.  It  was  late  in  the  fall  before  the  logs  for  the 
new,  16x20  foot  house  were  even  ready  to  be  hauled  out.  My 
father  had  provided  two  doors,  two  windows,  shingles,  nails, 
and  rough  lumber  for  the  floor.  (No  ready  planed  lumber 
was  to  be  had  in  those  days.  All  planing  was  done  by  hand.) 
He  had  these  all  on  the  ground  long  before  Mr.  Hill  had 
finished  the  logs ;  but  at  last  they  were  done, — cut  the 
proper  length,  hewed  flat  on  two  sides,  the  bark  removed, 
and  deposited  on  the  building-spot.  They  were  notched  to 
suit,  as  they  were  laid  together,  in  building. 

When  all  was  ready,  father  came,  with  men  to  raise  the 
house,  and  mother  with  him,  bringing  pies  and  cakes,  and  to 


SoMK  OF  Hf-r  Life  Expfhifcnces.  31 

help  me  with  the  (Hnncr.  Quiltinj?  parties,  house-raisings, 
and  hoj^-killinp^s  were  always  social  events  in  pioneer  life. 

My  father  and  the  other  men  under  his  direction  soon  had 
the  house  up,  with  the  opcnin.q-s  for  one  door  and  windows 
sawed  out ;  and  all  dci)artcd  happy  with  the  sun  yet  hij:jh  in 
the  heavens.  Father  said,  before  startinj:^:  "Now,  Le- 
grand,  go  ricjht  at  it  and  put  the  roof  on,  for  you  can  look 
out  for  a  hard  rain  soon."  Next  morning'  I  slipped  out  of 
bed  at  4  o'clock,  and  milked  the  cow,  and  when  breakfast 
was  almost  ready,  I  skipped  in,  and  tickled  my  husband's 
feet  to  waken  him,  and  put  him  in  a  good  humor  (for  he  was 
not  pleased  with  father's  advice). 

At  breakfast  I  said:  "Now  we  have  an  early  start,  and 
we  will  just  show  father  how  soon  we  will  have  that  roof 
on,  and  floor  down."  I  was  so  excited  over  the  prospect  of 
having  a  fine  new  house,  with  a  floor,  and  windows,  that  I 
felt  equal  to  almost  any  task.  In  two  days  the  rafters  were 
up,  and  the  roof  was  going  on.  Oh,  how  proud  I  was !  Our 
new  house  looked  so  big  and  tall  beside  the  little  old  hut, 
and  it  was  so  nice  to  be  able  to  look  up  and  see  no  cracks 
large  enough  to  let  a  snake  through ;  for,  as  the  back  of  the 
old  house  was  against  the  hill,  it  was  but  three  or  four  feet 
there  from  the  ground  to  the  roof,  upon  which  the  snakes 
often  crawled  to  sun  theniselves.  One  of  them  actually  did 
fall  through  into  the  house  one  day. 

By  the  time  the  roof  was  on,  Mr.  Hill  began  to  get  tired, 
and  suggested  a  hunt,  but  I  begged  and  coaxed  for  at  least 
one-half  of  the  floor,  so  that  we  could  move  in,  till  he  reluc- 
tantlv  went  ahead.  When  sufficient  floor  was  down  to  give 
room  for  our  one-leg'ged  bed,  it  was  moved  in.  and  I  soon 
had  it  neatly  made  up.  I  then  drove  nails  on  which  to  hang 
our  clothing,  and  other  things  that  could  be  hung  up,  and 
then  ornamented  the  floor  by  spreading  one  of  my  new% 
braided  rugs  in  front  of  the  bed,  only  wishing  for  room  to 
put  down  the  other  to  add  to  the  charms  of  this  growing 


32  Dr.  Owens-Adair. 

paradise.  No  young  wife  of  unlimited  wealth  ever  could 
have  looked  with  more  pride  and  pleasure  on  her  rich  velvet, 
or  Turkish  rug  than  I  did  on  that  to  me  precious  rug,  made 
by  my  own  hands  from  old  and  new  scraps  given  me  by 
my  mother. 

When  a  little  over  half  the  floor  was  done,  Mr,  Hill  stopped 
to  put  in  the  door,  which  was  not  completed  when  he  se- 
verely mashed  the  thumb  of  his  left  hand,  which  meant  the 
loss  of  the  nail,  and  a  lay-off  for  some  time. 

Oh,  dear !  This  was  terrible.  November  was  nearly 
gone ;  the  cooking  must  be  done  on  the  old  stove  in  the  hut, 
and  we  must  sit  there,  with  the  rain  leaking  all  around  us ! 
The  stove  could  not  be  moved  into  the  new  house  till  an 
opening  was  made  for  the  pipe,  and  we  had  not  sufficient 
pipe  to  reach  out  of  it,  had  there  been  one.  I  was  planning 
to  get  more  pipe  with  the  butter,  and  few  eggs  I  could  col- 
lect in  the  next  few  weeks.  Our  groceries  had  all  come 
from  the  proceeds  of  my  good  cow,  excepting  what  mother 
had  given  me.  She  always  had  a  sack  of  good  things  ready 
for  me  whenever  I  visited  her.  Winter  was  upon  us,  and 
we  were  in  a  dilemma. 

I  was  not  yet  15,  but,  girl  as  I  was,  I  could  but  realize 
that  this  condition  was  due  not  only  to  poor  management, 
but  to  want  of  industry  and  perseverance.  I  did  not  then 
know,  however,  that  a  man  with  a  perfect  right  hand  and  a 
quick  and  willing  wife  to  help  him,  could  have  gone  right 
ahead  and  finished  the  work.  My  husband  now  suggested 
that  we  go  to  father's  for  a  "visit."  I  did  not  like  this,  for 
I  realized  that  father  did  not  approve  of  his  shiftlessness,  but 
I  had  to  consent,  for  he  had  begun  to  exhibit  temper  when 
I  objected  to  any  of  his  plans  or  suggestions. 

We  got  up  the  horses  and  saddled  them,  and,  taking  a 
change  of  clothing,  and  our  cow  and  calf,  and  putting 
everything  else  into  the  new  house,  and  nailing  up  the  open- 
ings for  the  door  and  windows, — all  of  which  was  work  no 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  33 

less  hard  than  J^oinjj;'  on  with  the  floc^rinj^,  (lf>or  and  windows 
would  have  been, — we  took  ourselves  and  cow  over  to 
father's,  where  wc  were  always  welcome,  and  found  plenty 
of  good  things  to  eat. 

There  we  stayed  for  two  weeks,  when  father  got  us  pipe 
for  the  stove,  and  a  box  of  groceries.  He  and  mother  also 
went  home  with  us,  and  helped  to  put  up  the  stove,  and  hang 
the  door.  After  a  time  the  remainder  of  the  floor  was  laid, 
and  the  windows  put  in.  Now  the  butter  from  the  two  cows 
supplied  us  with  groceries.  We  had  no  neighbors  nearer 
than  father  and  mother. 

Mr.  Hill  had  been  receiving  letters  frequently  during  the 
winter  from  his  father,  and  married  sisters,  all  living  in 
Jackson  county,  Oregon,  and  doing  well,  and  well  pleased 
with  that  section.  His  father  had  bought  a  fine  farm,  and 
twenty  or  thirty  cows,  lived  on  the  main  road,  not  far  from 
the  Siskiyou  mountains,  and  received  large  prices  at  his  own 
door  for  every  pound  of  butter  and  cheese  he  produced. 

There  was  a  rush  for  the  California  mines.  They  urged 
us  to  sell,  and  come  out  there  in  the  spring.  Spring  was 
now  at  hand,  and  in  April  we  were  to  pay  three  hundred 
dollars  on  our  farm.  We  had  not  a  dollar  with  which  to 
meet  the  obligation.  Nothing  had  been  added  to  or  taken 
from  the  place,  excepting  the  house,  and  the  hay  for  the 
stock,  wheat  for  the  chickens,  and  what  the  garden  had 
yielded.  The  house,  alone,  had  been  permanently  added, 
and  that  would  not  have  been  built  but  for  my  father's  assist- 
ance. Mr.  Hill  was  handy  with  tools,  and  could  have  had 
work  at  good  wages,  as  a  carpenter,  at  any  time. 

The  former  owner  was  anxious  to  get  the  place  back,  and 
he  offered  us  $60  to  return  it  to  him.  This  was  more  than 
we  had  expected,  and  with  high  hopes,  we  decided  to  go  as 
soon  as  we  could  in  the  spring. 

I  sold  my  chickens  at  the  store  for  a  pair  of  shoes,  calico 
for  two  dresses,  and  a  few  other  little  things. 


34  Dr.  Owens-Adair. 

•  I  now  again  had  bright  hopes  for  the  future,  and  felt  quite 
rich  in  our  worldly  possessions  of  two  horses,  two  cows,  and 
one  yearling  heifer. 

We  traded  the  younger  calf  and  the  remains  of  the  crop 
for  another  horse,  as  I  should  have  to  ride  my  horse  Queen, 
and  drive  the  cows.  The  following  is  a  description  of  our 
trip  through  that  memorable  canyon,  which  we  passed  on 
our  way  to  Jackson  county,  written  several  years  ago  for 
publication : 

Transportation  Facilities  in  Oregon  and  Northern  Califor- 
nia, as  told  by  Dr.  Owens-Adair. 

To  THE  Editor:  In  the  days  of  the  early  fifties,  all 
freight,  including  the  U.  S.  mail,  was  carried  by  pack- 
trains.  The  mule  was  to  Oregon  what  the  camel  is  to  the 
great  desert.  The  roads  were  never  good,  at  the  best,  and 
in  winter  the  mud  was  so  deep  that  the  laden  animals  often 
bcame  mired  beyond  the  power  to  extricate  themselves,  and 
had  to  be  literally  "snaked"  out,  as  the  packers  call  it.  Even 
in  summer,  the  worst  places  were  extremely  difficult  and 
dangerous  to  pass.  The  packers  were  men  of  resource,  ever 
ready  for,  and  equal  to  an  emergency.  They  had  need  to  be, 
for  those  were  times  that  tried  and  cultivated  to  their  utmost 
every  human  power  of  endurance.  Besides  this,  many  of 
the  pioneers  were  the  flower  of  the  East.  More  courageous, 
more  forceful  and  enterprising,  as  well  as  more  adventurous 
than  thir  fellows,  they  pushed  on  to  find  a  broader  field  for 
their  exploitation,  through  obstacles  that  weaker  men  feared 
to  attack ;  and  found  their  reward  in  the  free,  whole-souled 
life  of  the  frontier,  and  in  the  development  of  a  sturdy  char- 
acter not  to  be  obtained  in  the  narrower,  more  conventional 
surroundings..  The  first  time  I  ever  saw  a  pack-train  was 
in  the  early  spring  of  1854.  My  father,  Thomas  Owens, 
and  his  family,  were  then  living  just  north  of  the  bridge 
crossing  the  famous  Deer  Creek,  near  by  the  Roseburg  mill 
■ — the  first  flouring  mill  in  Southern  Oregon.     Deer  Creek 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.      .  35 

runs  through  a  beautiful  valley,  nestled  between  swelling 
hills  and  gentle  slopes,  and  dotted  picturesquely  with  fine 
oak,  ash,  pine,  man/.anita,  laurel,  and  other  trees.  The 
stream  itself  was  thickly  fringed  with  a  generous  and  grace- 
ful growth  of  myrtle,  crab-apple,  vine-maple  and  willow ; 
with  luxuriant  vines  of  a  wild  white  grape  climbing  their 
trunks.  These  grapes  were  similar  to  those  in  cultivation, 
excepting  in  size,  and  were  equally  palatable  and  wholesome. 
Berries  in  great  variety  abounded,  in  their  season,  including 
strawberries,  huckleberries,  service-berries,  the  blue  elder- 
berry, blackberries  and  the  wild  Oregon  grape,  which  is 
chiefly  admired  for  its  fragrant  golden  bloom,  and  its  shin- 
ing, holly-like  foliage.  Groves  of  wild  plums  also  furnished 
conserves  to  the  pioneer  housewife.  This  valley  was  then 
the  feeding  and  breeding-grounds  of  thousands  of  deer, 
from  which  it  received  its  name.  They  were  attracted  by 
the  abundance  of  grass  and  excellent  water,  and  especially 
by  the  salt  springs,  or  "licks,"  which  abounded  in  the  neigh- 
borhood. It  was  an  ideal  pioneer  home,  and  on  this  fresh 
spring  morning  it  spread,  an  enchanting  picture,  before  our 
door,  as  we  heard  the  jangling  bells  of  the  long  mule  pack- 
train,  plodding  down  the  gentle  slope  toward  the  then  primi- 
tive village  of  Roseburg.  The  roads  were  drying  fast,  but 
the  mud  was  still  deep  and  stiff  in  the  low,  level  stretch  near 
the  creek.  A  freighted  mule-train  was  a  notable  spectacle, 
and,  as  I  said  before,  it  was  my  first  sight  of  one,  as  we  had 
moved  there  but  recently  from  Clatsop  plains.  We  all 
hastened  to  the  door  to  get  a  good  view  of  it.  On  they  came, 
the  mules  crowding  each  other  down  the  hill  with  increasing 
activity,  as  if  their  legs  as  well  as  their  spirits,  were  becom- 
ing "limbered"  up  by  the  warm  sunshine,  and  soon  reached 
the  brink  of  that  deceptive  mud-hole,  for,  like  thin  ice,  the 
dry  crust  gave  way,  and  the  foremost  animals  were  "stuck" 
fast  before  their  drivers  could  turn  them  to  either  side. 
Mules   are    commonly    considered   to   be    stupid   creatures. 


36  •  Dr.  Owens-Adair. 

However,  these  showed  a  great  deal  of  sense.  They  realized 
their  situation,  and  seemed  to  have  perfect  confidence  in 
their  rescuers,  and  stood  perfect!}^  still,  without  an  effort  to 
extricate  themselves.  In  a  twinkling-  three  athletic  fellows 
w^ere  at  hand,  uncoiling  their  long,  strong,  braided  rawhide 
ropes,  or  liariats,  which  they  always  carry  coiled  at  their 
pommels.  One  rode  in  beside  the  mired  mules,  and  in  some, 
to  me,  inexplicable  manner,  instantaneously  fastened  his 
lariat  to  the  pack-saddle  of  the  foremost  beast,  to  which  he 
secured  the  ends  of  the  other  ropes  of  his  two  companions. 
Then  the  quick,  sharp  word,  "pull  away!"  was  given;  the 
two  other  horsemen  repeated  the  command,  and  their 
trained  animals  pulled  so  gallantly  that  the  helpless  mule, 
with  his  pack,  was  landed  safely  on  solid  ground  in  a  "jiffy," 
where  he  was  soon  on  his  feet  again,  shaking  off  the  mud, 
and  vigorously  switching  his  thin  little  tail,  as  he  started  off 
to  join  the  procession  ahead.  x'Vnd  so  the  work  went  on,  till 
all  were  over  the  quagmire,  and  out  of  our  sight.  That  for- 
midable mudhole  has  long  since  been  converted  into  a  paved 
street  in  the  now  beautiful  and  flourishing  little  city  of 
Roseburg. 

I  was  married  in  1854,  and  a  year  from  that  time,  in  the 
spring  of  1855,  my  husband  and  I  started  to  move  farther 
south,  to  the  foothills  of  the  Siskiyou  mountains,  beyond 
Jacksonville.  We  had  packed  our  possessions,  which  were 
few,  in  a  w^agon,  to  which  was  attached  a  span  of  horses.  I 
was  to  ride  my  thoroughbred  mare,  Queen.  We  waited  sev- 
eral days,  however,  in  order  to  go  with  a  drove  of  cattle,  as 
their  drivers  were  to  have  a  wagon  and  team  in  which  to 
haul  their  outfit,  and  we  could  thus  assist  each  other.  When 
the  drove  of  some  150  head  of  cattle  arrived,  we  all  set  off, 
on  May  1st,  and  on  the  next  afternoon,  reached  the  then 
famous  camping-ground  at  the  entrance  of  the  canyon,  which 
is  now  a  town  called  Canyonville,  twenty-five  miles  south 
of  Roseburg.     It  was  ten  miles  through  this  dreadful  can- 


Some  of  IJkk  Life  Experiences.  37 

yon,  and  it  was  called  the  worst  Icn  miles  of  road  between 
Portland,  Oregon,  and  Yreka,  California ;  but  there  was  then 
no  better  way.  There  were  several  miles  of  it  that  had  to  be 
traveled  through  the  bed  oi  the  creek,  over  and  between  im- 
mense boulders,  and  the  creek  itself  had  to  be  crossed  ninety- 
six  times !  Besides  all  this,  the  road  ran  up  and  down  hills, 
and  on  the  edges  of  precipices  into  whose  frightful  depths 
few  could  look  without  dizziness.  Many  accidents  occurred 
on  this  road.  Pack  animals  and  teams  had  gone  over,  never 
to  be  recovered.  No  one  thought  of  attempting  to  start 
through  this  perilous  pass  excepting  in  the  early  morning,  so 
we  prepared  to  camp  for  the  night.  Late  in  the  afternoon, 
to  our  great  delight,  a  big  train  of  seventy  or  eighty  pack- 
mules  and  their  drivers  came  up.  We  greeted  them  with 
welcoming  cheers,  and  they  responded  with  equal  good- 
fellowship.  A  council  was  held,  and  it  was  decided  that  the 
mule-train  should  go  first,  followed  by  the  cattle,  so  that  they 
might  stir  up  and  tread  down  the  mud,  and  make  it  possible 
for  the  wagons  which  followed  to  get  through.  I  was  then 
only  a  little  past  fifteen ;  but  a  girl  of  fifteen  was  then  con- 
sidered a  grown  woman.  Though  small,  I  was  in  perfect 
health,  and  as  active  as  a  squirrel.  I  was  at  home  in  the  sad- 
dle, and  felt  perfect  confidence  in  myself  and  my  beautiful 
Queen;  so  I  looked  forward  to  the  next  day's  trip  as  a  real 
picnic,  which  it  certainly  was,  though  of  a  very  different  kind 
from  what  I  had  imagined.  The  captain  of  the  pack-train 
had  offered  to  take  me  with  them,  as  he  said  no  untrained 
horse  with  a  rider  could  ever  get  safely  through  that  canyon 
without  help,  of  which  I  was  speedily  convinced.  I  never 
saw  my  gallant  cavalier,  the  captain  of  that  big  mule-train, 
again  after  parting  the  next  day,  but  his  memory  is  still 
fresh  in  my  mind.  I  can  see  him  now%  as  he  stood  by  my 
beautiful  Queen, — tall,  handsome  and  graceful,  critically  ex- 
amining every  part  of  her  trappings,  after  which  he  smiled 
down  on  me,  and  walked  away  to  his  supply  mule,  coming 


38  Dr.  Owens-Adair. 

back  with  a  long,  broad  cinch,  which  he  threw  across  my 
saddle,  and  quickly  tightened  over  all,  thus  making  every- 
thing doubly  secure.  Then,  placing  his  right  hand  upon 
the  back  of  my  saddle,  he  bent  forward,  and  extended  his 
left  for  my  foot,  and  with  one  light  spring,  I  was  seated  in 
the  saddle.  Had  this  honest,  cautious  and  capable  frontiers- 
man been  the  captain  of  the  ill-fated  Gen.  Slocum,  or  its 
inspector,  1020  helpless  victims  would  not  have  been  sacri- 
ficed to  fire  and  flood,  and  heartless  greed  for  gold.  There 
were  many  brave  and  noble  men  in  those  days,  clad  in  buck- 
skin, battling  with  the  wilds  of  the  wilderness.  Those  were 
times  "that  tried  men's  souls,"  but  those  heroes  "came,  saw 
and  conquered." 

After  seating  me,  the  captain  mounted  his  own  horse.  All 
was  now  ready,  and  the  train  entered  the  canyon.  The 
first  half  mile  was  delightful.  It  was  a  perfect  spring  morn- 
ing. The  sun  was  just  rising  over  the  hills,  and  all  nature 
smiled  a  joyous  response  to  his  warm  greeting.  The  happy 
birds  twittered  in  the  branches,  and  sweetly  sang  their 
morning  anthems.  The  air  was  filled  with  the  fragrance  of 
the  wealth  of  wild  flowers  that  glorified  the  hillsides  and 
sheltered  valleys  with  their  rich  and  varied  tints, — for  in  no 
spot  in  the  whole  wide  world  have  I  seen  so  wonderful  a 
variety,  or  such  beauty  of  form  and  color,  as  in  the  native 
flora  of  this  favored  Umpqua  Valley.  It  produces  three  dif- 
ferent varieties  of  the  sweetest  scented  honeysuckles,  and  at 
least  three  distinct  and  beautiful  lilies,  yellow,  straw-colored, 
purple  and  white.  Violets,  gorgeous  rhododendrons  and  aza- 
leas-— but  it  is  impossible  to  enumerate  all  the  treasures  of 
that  garden  of  our  flower-garlanded  Oregon,  The  noble 
trees,  the  rolling  hills,  the  verdant  valleys,  the  gorgeous  wild 
flowers,  with  their  intoxicating  fragrance,  the  genial,  golden 
sunshine,  and  the  blue  sky  over-arching  all,  made  a  picture 
little  short  of  perfection — a  dream  of  beauty  never  to  be  for- 
gotten.    I  was  so  filled  with  the  romantic  enthusiasm  and 


SOMIC    OF    IfKK    Lll'K    I">XF'Rl{rK!SrCES,  39 

exaltation  of  spirits  insjjirccl  by  such  channiiif^'-  surrotindiii^s, 
that  my  young  heart's  buoyant  emotions  Inir.st  forth  i.i 
snatches  of  song.  My  sympathetic  Queen  i)arlook  of  my 
feelings,  and  felt  the  influence  of  the  exhilarating  atmo- 
sphere, and  was  ofif  like  a  flash.  I  was  but  a  feather  on  her 
back,  and  she  was  always  ready  to  go  when  I  gave  her  the 
rein.  The  captain  had  to  put  spurs  to  his  horse  to  keep  by 
my  side.  All  too  soon  we  caught  up  with  the  train,  and 
entered  the  dense  woods  and  deep  mud,  where  romance  re- 
tired, and  stern  reality  stared  us  in  the  face.  Much  oi  the 
road  resembled  a  corduroy  road  of  logs,  laid  parallel,  and 
perhaps  two  feet  apart ;  though  instead  of  logs^  it  was  formed 
of  ridges  of  stiff  mud,  with  deep  furrows  between  each,  worn 
by  the  feet  of  hundreds  of  pack-animals  stepping  into  the 
same  tracks  as  they  passed,  the  ruts  becoming  deeper,  and 
the  ridges  higher,  as  time  went  on.  The  summer  months 
dried  the  roads  in  this  condition,  making  it  next  to  impossi- 
ble for  a  wag'on  to  get  through.  The  mule  leaders,  each 
wearing  a  bell  of  different  tone  from  all  the  others,  followed 
in  single  file.  They  knew  the  danger,  and  seldom  "bunched 
up."  There  was  usually  a  driver  to  each  ten  or  twelve 
mules,  and  these  drivers  were  here  and  there,  always  on  the 
lookout,  and  ready  for  an  emergency,  or  an  accident,  which 
often  occurred. 

The  position  of  captain  of  a  large  mule  freight-train,  like 
that  of  the  captain  of  a  great  ocean  liner,  was  behind  his 
command,  that  he  might  the  better  overlook  and  control  its 
movements.  We  could  hear  the  bells  far  ahead,  and,  as  the 
captain  and  drivers  knew  the  sound  of  each,  if  trouble  oc- 
curred they  instantly  knew  in  what  part  of  the  train  it  was, 
even  though  it  were  out  of  their  sight,  in  a  curve  of  the  road 
ahead.  Every  now  and  then  there  would  come  a  call  to 
^'halt,"  when  two  or  more  drivers  would  go  on  and  assist  in 
helping  some  fallen  animal. 

Our  troubles  soon  began.    The  mud  was  so  stiff  and  deep 


40  Dr.  Owens-Adair. 

that  in  some  places  it  was  well-nigh  impossible  for  the 
heavily  lad^n  animals  to  get  through,  and  they  frequently 
became  "stuck,"  and  had  to  be  pulled  out. 

Entirely  unaccustomed  to  such  a  road,  my  Queen  became 
first  nervous,  and  then  frantic.  She  would  try  to  step  upon 
the  hard  ridges,  and  then  slip,  and  plunge,  and  flounder, 
throwing  mud  all  over  herself  and  me. 

But  the  strong,  firm  hand  was  on  her  bit,  and  the  kind, 
masterful  voice,  speaking  gentle,  soothing  words  in  her  ear. 
Only  through  such  treatment  by  the  captain,  and  the  pres- 
ence of  his  own  trained  animal,  could  she  ever  have  gotten 
through  without  injuring  herself  or  her  rider.  I  think  she 
must  have  fallen  twenty  times  on  that  trip,  but  the  faithful 
captain  held  her  gently,  yet  firmly,  and  in  the  most  soothing 
tones,  would  appeal  to  her,  as  to  a  high-born  lady,  and  his 
own  sweetheart ; — "Easy,  easy,  now,  my  lady ;"  "Come,  now, 
my  pretty  birdie"  ;  "Gently  now,  my  pretty  girl"  ; — meantime 
patting  and  caressing  her.  She  soon  understood,  and,  in 
time,  learned  to  trust  him,  and  to  submit  willingly  to  his 
guidance — and  often,  after  he  had  safely  guided  her  around 
some  frightful  mud-hole,  or  almost  impassable  barrier,  and 
turned,  with  a  reassuring  caress,  to  mount  his  own  faithful 
horse,  who  always  kept  closely  behind.  Queen  would  put  out 
her  nose  for  another  pat,  which  she  would  be  sure  to  get. 
Then  he  would  exclaim  :  "Oh,  you're  a  beauty !  Almost  a.s 
lovely  as  a  woman."  When  he  was  compelled  to  leave  us 
by  the  roadside,  to  go  forward  to  assist  in  extricating  some 
unfortunate,  he  would  say  to  me :  "Now  let  me  assist  you 
off.  It  will  rest  you.  I  am  afraid  you  will  get  very  tired." 
Queen  was  restless  in  his  absence,  and  anxiously  watched  for 
his  coming.  Intelligent  animals  always  realize  their  sur 
roundings,  and  soon  learn,  in  danger,  to  depend  on  the  su- 
perior human  intelligence. 

The  woods  reverberated  with  whoops,  yells,  and  curses. 
The  cattle  "bunched  up,"  crowded  each  other,    and  some 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  41 

rolled  down  the  hill  to  their  death.  The  waj^oiis  inircd  so 
deeply  that  they  had  to  be  pried  u]),  and  the  teams  doubled  to 
pull  them  out.  And  so  the  long  day  wore  on,  until  about  4 
p.  m.,  after  twelve  hours  of  desperately  hard  work,  the  rear 
end  of  the  mule  train  emerged  from  the  canyon  upon  a 
beautiful  green  slope,  bedecked  with  wild  flowers.  The  first 
part  of  the  pack-train  had  already  been  relieved  of  their 
burdens,  and  were  quietly  grazing  with  intense  enjoyment 
upon  the  luscious  grass.  The  sight,  to  me,  was  perfectly 
enchanting,  as  I  jumped  off  my  poor,  tired  Queen.  We  were 
both  covered  frgm  head  to  feet  with  mud.  Our  good,  gal- 
lant friend  speedily  relieved  her  of  her  trappings,  and  the 
next  minute  she  was  down,  rolling  on  the  clean  grass, 
and  rubbing  the  mud  from  her  handsome  coat.  The  hun- 
gry cattle  now  appeared,  and  instantly  made  for  the  grass. 
Water  they  had  had  all  day  in  plenty,  but  no  food.  Some 
of  the  men  who  got  out  first  volunteered  to  go  back  and  help 
bring  out  the,  wagons,  which  sorely  needed  their  aid.  With 
their  strong  ropes ,  hitched  on  in  front  of  the  horses,  they 
kept  them  on  their  feetj  and  helped  them  through,  and  both 
man  and  beast  rejoiced  at  the  end  of  their  severe  exertions. 

I  assisted  the  packers,  and  we  soon  had  a  good  supper  for 
all,  to  which  we  sat  down  with  appetites  suited  to  the  occa" 
■sion,  amid  general  congratulations  on  our  good  day's  work. 
The  next  day  we  regretfully  bade  adieu  to  our  good  friends 
the  packers,  only  wishing  we  could  have  kept  up  with  them. 

And  this  was  frojitier  life !  Hard,  strenuous,  often  dan- 
gerous, but  full  of  free,  fresh  out-of-door  enjoyment,  and 
rich  in  those  noblest  qualities  of  the  race, — courage,  resolu- 
tion, patience,  industry,  honesty,  hope,  patriotism,  chivalry, 
cheerfulness,  helpful  kindness  and  hearty  good  will. 


42  Dr.  Owens-Adair. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

The  remainder  of  our  trip  after  getting  through  the  can- 
yon, was  uneventful,  but  pleasant.  We  remained  several 
months  with  his  father  and  mother,  both  assisting  with  the 
milking,  and  he  on  the  farm  and  I  in  the  house  and  dairy. 

At  this  time  there  was  much  gold  excitement  in  and 
around  Yreka,  and  Mr.  Hill  decided  to  go  there,  and  think- 
ing we  could  not  take  the  cows,  he  sold  them.  And  now 
we  had  some  money.  Then  he  suggested  that  before  we 
went  off  so  far,  we  ride  back  and  visit  my  folks.  "It  would 
only  take  a  few  weeks,  and  cost  very  little."  By  this  time 
I  was  homesick,  and,  of  course,  glad  to  go,  and  so  we  went. 
I  could  see  that  father  did  not. approve  of  Mr.  Hill's  having 
sold  my  cows.     He  said  to  him : 

"Now  take  my  advice,  and  settle  down;  and  remember 
that  a  'rolling  stone  gathers  no  moss.'  It  does  not  take  long 
for  a  few  head  of  cattle  to  grow  into  money." 

Our  visit  over,  we  mounted  our  horses,  and  said  good- 
bye again.  Along  the  road,' at  convenient  intervals,  stood 
roadside  inns,  for  the  accommodation  of  travelers.  One  of 
the  best  of  these  was  kept  by  two  brothers,  bachelors,  one  of 
whom  stuttered  badly.  He  was  the  cook  and  housekeeper. 
My  husband  knew  them  well,  and  always  made  it  a  point  to 
stop  there,  coming  and  going. 

Just  after  we  had  alighted,  and  Mr.  Hill  was  leading  our 
horses  away,  a  man  rode  up,  and  inquired  how  far  it  was  to 
the  next  stopping-place.  Our  landlord,  anxious  to  reply 
promptly,  began  stuttering  and  sputtering,  twisting  his  face 
into  the  most  frightful  contortions,  and  working  himself  all 
over,  in  the  effort  to  reply. 


SoMic  OF  IFi'K  r.iFK  Experiences,  43 

The  strani^cr  sat  on  his  horse,  j^Mzinj^  at  him  in  amaze- 
ment.    At  last  the  landlord  hlurted  out: 

"D — d — n  it !  go  on !  You'll  get  there  b-beforc  I  can  tell 
you !"  and  made  for  the  house. 

I  told  the  man  it  was  about  four  miles,  and  he  rode  on, 
convulsed  with  laughter.  This  expression  was  repeated  as 
a  by-word  on  similar  occasions  by  all  the  country  round  for 
many  years,  and  may  be  current  there  now,  for  aught  I  know. 

From  here  we  proceeded  on  to  the  mountain-house,  then 
owned  and  kept  by  a  Mr.  Russell,  the  husband  of  Mr.  Hill's 
youngest  sister,  who  was  one  of  the  most  lovely  women  I 
ever  knew.  She  and  I  were  about  the  same  age,  and  we  be- 
came very  much  attached  to  each  other,  and,  I  am  happy  to 
say,  we  have  continued  up  to  this  time  warm  friends,  with 
never  a  word  to  jar  our  pleasant  relations.  She,  long  since 
widowed,  lives  in  Ashland,  Oregon,  surrounded  by  her  ad- 
mirable family,  and  honored  and  loved  by  all  who  know  her. 
I  can  say,  with  pride,  that  I  have  retained  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  all  Mr.  Hill's  family,  who  are,  and  have  been 
among  the  most  respected  and  esteemed  pioneers  of  Jackson 
county,  Oregon. 

We  found  the  dwellers  at  the  Mbuntain  House  in  a  state 
of  great  excitement.  The  day  before,  two  men  had  been 
attacked  and  killed  on  the  mountain,  and  the  mail,  and  all 
travelers  must  wait  till  a  sufficient  number  of  men  could  be 
gathered  together  to  make  traveling  safe,  or  till  the  soldiers 
could  come  to  guard  the  U.  S.  mail  and  the  teams. 

At  the  end  of  three  days  a  large  company  was  collected ; — 
at  least  half  a  dozen  w^agons  with  families,  a  long  pack-train, 
and  a  good  many  horsemen,  and  miners  with  their  pack- 
animals.  Men  and  women  were  not  easily  frightened  in 
those  days.  With  twenty  men,  well  armed,  we  felt  no  fear. 
We  started  over  that  mountain  more  like  a  party  going  to  a 
picnic,  than  people  going  into  deadly  danger. 


44  Dr.  Owexs-Adair. 

.The  men,  however,  kept  a  sharp  lookout  for  "the  red 
devils,"  but  saw  none,  and  we  reached  Yreka  safely,  and  in 
good  time. 

]\Ir.  Hill  had  an  aunt,  his  father's  sister,  a  Mrs.  Kelly, 
living'  there.  She  had  had  but  one  son,  who  had  been  re- 
cently killed  in  the  war  with  the  Rogue  River  Indians,  and 
her  great  sorrow  for  his  loss  was  still  fresh.  As  soon  as  she 
heard  we  were  in  town,  she  came  at  once  to  see  us,  and  said 
to  my  husband : 

"Now,  Legrand,  you  must  get  right  to  work ;  there's 
plenty  to  do  here,  at  good  wages.  But  you  must  not  leave 
this  little  wife  of  yours  alone,  for  there  are  too  many  rough, 
drinking  men  in  the  place ;  but  she  will  be  safe  with  me.  I 
can  help  you  both  in  many  ways.  So  you  pack  up  every- 
thing and  move  right  over  to  my  house."  I  was  delighted, 
and  she  proved  to  be  one  of  the  dearest  and  best  of  mothers 
to  me. 

She  was  a  woman  of  executive  ability,  and  a  real  money- 
maker ;  but,  like  most  women  of  such  ability,  she  had  a  hus- 
band who  wheedled  it  out  of  her  about  as  fast  as  she  made  it. 

She  kept  from  one  to  two  cows  and  a  flock  of  chickens, 
from  w^hich  she  sold  milk  and  eggs,  made  pies  and  cakes  for 
sale,  and  took  in  sewing.  She  received  $3  for  making  a  • 
white  shirt,  and  was  paid  for  everything  else  in  proportion. 
She  was  a  most  excellent  seamstress,  and  she  found  in  me  a 
more  than  willing  student,  as  I  was  anxious  both  to  learn 
and  to  make  money  also.  And  so  we  worked  together,  she 
giving  me  all,  and  usvially  more  than  I  earned. 

Her  husband  was  selfish  and  unsympathetic,  and  often 
scolded  her  for  grieving  for  her  dead  boy,  who  was  the  son 
of  her  first  husband.  Then  the  poor  mother  would  turn  to 
me  for  sympathy,  which  she  imfailingly  received.  She  soon 
transferred  her  affection  to  me,  and  took  great  pride  in  mak- 
ing my  clothes  fit  me  perfectly,  and  in  dressing  me  becom- 
ingly.    Often  she  would  say : 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  45 

"Now,  I  amgoing  to  sec  that  you  liave  i)lcnly  of  nice  clothes, 
and  I  shall  not  let  you  pj-ivc  it  to  Lcj^rancl  to  fool  away."  (He 
had  lived  with  her  for  eight  or  ten  years  in  his  boyhood,  and 
she  thoroughly  understood  him,  and  felt  that  she  had  a  right 
to  advise  hini  and  instruct  him  as  to  what  he  ought  to  do. 
Had  he  followed  her  advice,  he  would  have  succeeded,  in- 
stead of  making  a  failure.) 

"Legrand,"  she  would  say,  "I  want  you  to  buy  a  lot,  while 
you  have  the  money  to  pay  for  it.  First  thing  you  know, 
the  money  will  all  be  gone,  and  you'll  have  nothing  to  show 
for  it.  Then,  get  in,  and  build  a  house.  It  is  high  time  you 
were  getting  settled." 

In  March  a  small,  one-roomed,  battened  house,  with  a 
"lean-to"  for  a  kitchen,  and  a  lot,  were  for  sale  at  $450, — 
only  a  block  from  Aunt  Kelly's.  That  was  then  a  great  bar- 
gain, and  we  bought  it,  paying  $300  down,  all  the  money  left 
from  the  sale  of  my  two  cows,  heifer  and  the  wagon  and 
horses.  My  Queen  was  out  on  pasture,  and  continued  to 
be  a  "bone  of  contention,"  as  she  was  only  an  expense.  But 
I  stoutly  refused  to  have  her  sold,  and  Aunt  Kelly  stood  by 
me,  declaring  he  should  not  sell  her,  as  she  would  herself 
pay  for  her  pasturage  before  it  should  be  done. 

We  moved  into  our  new  house  in  March,  with  the  $150 
mortgage  hanging  over  us.  On  April  17th,  1856,  our  baby 
was  born,  and  then  Aunt  Kelly  begged  me  to  give  him  to  her, 
addressing  me  thus : 

"Now,  Bethenia,  you  just  give  him  to  me.  I  will  take 
him,  and  educate  him,  and  make  him  my  heir.  I  will  give 
him  all  I  have,  and  that  is  more  than  his  father  Avill  ever  do 
for  him.  I  know  very  well  that  Legrand  will  just  fool 
around  all  his  life,  and  never  accomplish  anything." 

She  seemed  to  think  my  consent  to  her  having  the  child 
was  all  that  was  necessary.  But  my  baby  was  too  precious 
to  give  to  anyone. 

I  continued  to  work  with  Aunt  Kellv.  who  was  ahvavs 


46  Dr.  Ovvens-Adair. 

over-crowded  with  work,  and  as  we  were  so  near  by  each 
other,  I  could  do  much  of  it  at  my  own  home ;  so  that,  in 
time,  I  was  able  to  get  many  little  conveniences  and  comforts 
for  the  house,  beside  a  good  share  of  our  groceries.  Mr.  Hill 
neither  drank  or  used  tobacco,  but,  as  his  aunt  said,  he  sim- 
ply idled  away  his  time,  doing  a  day's  work  here  and  there, 
but  never  continuing  at  anything.  Then,  too,  he  had  a  pas- 
sion for  trading  and  speculating,  always  himself  coming  out 
a  loser;  and  thus  the  time  dragged  on,  until  September,  1857, 
when  who  should  drive  up,  one  glad  day,  but  my  father  and 
mother.  Father  had  heard  how  things  were  going  with  us, 
and  had  come,  prepared  to  take  us  back  with  them  in  case 
we  were  willing  to  go,  but  he  was  to  discreet  to  let  this  be 
known  till  later.  He  and  mother  wanted  to  see  the  country ; 
the  children  were  large  enough  to  look  out  for  things  at 
home ;  and  they  especially  desired  to  see  my  baby. 

It  did  not  take  them  long  to  understand  that  we  were 
barely  living  "from  hand  to  mouth,"  as  it  were,  with  most 
of  the  work  coming  on  me,  so  father  said : 

"How  would  you  like  to  go  back  to  Roseburg?  It  is  a 
growing  town.  I  have  several  acres  in  it,  and  if  you  think 
you  would  like  to  make  the  change,  I  will  give  you  an  acre 
of  land,  and  the  material  for  a  good  house,  which  you  can 
put  up  this  fall.  The  boys  can  help  you,  and  there  will  al- 
ways be  plenty  of  work  at  carpentering  in  town." 

To  say  that  we  were  delighted  with  this  proposal  ex- 
presses it  but  faintly.  We  sold  our  house  and  lot  in  Yreka, 
realizing  less  than  $100  out  of  the  transaction,  as  the  $150 
mortgage  and  interest  had  to  come  out  of  the  sum  received 
for  the  property,  but  father  said  "A  bird  in  the  hand  is  worth 
two  in  the  bush."  We  were  soon  packed,  and  ready  to  start 
again  on  our  migrations.  There  was  but  one  regret  on  my 
part,  that  was  leaving  dear  old  Aunt  Kelly,  who  had  been  so 
good  to  me,  and  had  taught  me  so  many  useful  things.  With 
many  tears  and  sobs,  I  bade  her  good-bye. 


SoMii  OF  Her  Life  Experiences.  47 

My  tears  were  always  near  the  surface  in  my  younf:^  days, 
and  overflowed  easily.  Mother  frecjuently  said,  "Your  tears 
lie  very  shallow ;  you  are  always  either  at  the  top  or  bottom." 
There  was  no  middle  g-round  for  me,  and  my  likes  and  dis- 
likes were  positive  in  the  extreme. 

The  weather  was  fine,  and  we  all  enjoyed  the  trip,  only  one 
accident  occurring,  and  that  came  near  ending  in  a  terrible 
tragedy. 

Mr.  Hill  was  driving  the  team.  Mother  sat  on  the  back 
seat,  holding  in  her  arms  my  youngest  sister  (now  Mrs.  Al- 
vah  Pike,  of  Portland,  Oregon).  I  sat  on  the  front  seat 
beside  my  husband,  with  my  baby  in  my  arms.  My  father 
was  walking  behind,  leading  my  mare.  Queen.  As  we  were 
descending  the  Siskiyou  mountains  into  Oregon,  we  came 
to  a  deep  gulch,  spanned  by  a  high,  narrow  bridge,  at  least 
forty  feet  above  the  stream  below,  which  ran  among  immense 
boulders.  The  road  beyond  was  steep,  narrow,  and  rocky, 
and  turned  sharply  to  the  left.  The  moment  we  were  across 
the  bridge,  Mr.  Hill  started  up  the  horses  briskly,  applying 
the  whip,  to  wdiich  they  were  totally  unaccustomed  in  climb- 
ing a  hill.  In  springing  suddenly  and  strongly  forward,  one 
wheel  of  the  wagon  came  violently  in  contact  with  a  large 
rock,  and,  in  his  hasty  attempt  to  bring  them  around,  he 
pulled  the  lines  too  hard,  and  they  began  to  back  toward  the 
bridge.  I  saw  the  danger,  and,  instantly,  with  one  bound, 
I  was  on  the  ground,  with  my  babe  in  my  arms.  Turning, 
I  heard  father's  commanding  voice  shouting  "Whoa !"  and 
saw  him  running  toward  us.  The  next  instant  he  had  seized 
the  spokes  of  the  wheel,  and  thrown  his  full  strength  into 
one  supreme  effort  to  check  the  wagon,  which  he  succeeded 
in  doing-,  just  as  the  wheel  was  at  the  very  edge  of  the 
bridge !  Meanwhile,  I  had  placed  my  baby  on  the  ground 
and  seized  a  solid  chunk  of  wood  that  fortunately  lay  near, 
and  wedged  it  under  and  behind  the  wheel.  Thus  an  aw^ful 
tragedy  was  averted.     Not  till  the  danger  was  past  did  I 


48  Dr.  Owens-Adair. 

realize  that  I  was  hurt.  I  now  found  that  I  had  sustained  a. 
severe  sprain  of  the  instep  of  my  right  foot,  from  which  I 
have  suffered  very  much  at  times,  ever  since.  Mother 
removed  my  shoe,  and  wrapped  my  foot  in  a  thick  cloth, 
saturated  with  water  from  the  creek  under  the  memorable 
bridge  that  came  so  near  being  our  death,  after  which  we 
continued  our  journey,  father  now  driving,  which  he  con- 
tinued thereafter  to  do  on  all  bad  places. 

On  reaching  home,  father  told  me  I  could  go  over  and 
select  my  acre  of  land,  and  our  building-spot,  which  I  gladly 
did.  He  told  Mr.  Hill  he  could  have  the  team,  and  he  and 
the  boys  could  haul  the  lumber  for  our  house,  so  that  he 
could  get  to  work  on  it  at  once. 

They  hauled  the  lumber,  but,  in  the  meantime,  Mr.  Hill 
had  been  talking  with  a  man  about  burning  brick.  This  man 
had  some  land  a  mile  from  father's  and  a  team,  and  he 
offered  to  go  into  equal  partnership  with  Mr.  Hill  in  the 
business  of  brickmaking  there,  each,  beside  his  own  work, 
furnishing  one  man  to  help,  and  I  was  to  do  the  cooking  for 
them  all,  for  the  use  of  the  team. 

Father  endeavored,  in  every  way,  to  dissuade  him  from 
going  into  this  undertaking,  telling  him  that  it  would  be 
impossible,  so  late  in  the  season,  to  prepare  a  yard,  and  burn 
a  kiln  of  brick  before  winter;  and  that  the  soil  had  never 
been  tested,  and  there  was  no  certainty  that  it  was  suitable 
for  the  purpose,  etc.,  but  the  more  he  talked  the  more  deter- 
mined Mr.  Hill  was  to  put  all  the  little  money  we  had  into 
the  venture,  and  so  he  moved  me  and  my  young  child  into 
a  tent  in  a  low,  damp  valley,  near  the  river,  and  their  work 
and  mine  was  begun.  But  it  was  never  half  completed,  for 
when  they  had  only  a  few  hundred  of  brick  rpolded,  it  began 
to  rain  continuously,  and  put  a  stop  to  their  work,  and  in 
addition  to  this  ill-fortune,  I  was  stricken  down  with  typhoid 
fever.  Father  and  mother  came  with  the  wagon,  and  moved 
us  back  to  their  home.  It  was  now  late  in  November ;  winter 
was  upon  us,  and  still  our  house  was  not  touched. 


Some  of  Her  I.ife  Experiences.  49 

"When  I  became  convalescent,  father  urged  Mr.  Hill  to 
begin  the  house.  He  replied  that  he  wanted  a  dcerl  to  the 
acre  of  land  before  beginning  the  house. 

Father  then  told  him  that  he  and  mother  had  talked  it 
over,  and  had  decided  to  deed  the  property  to  me  and  the 
boy ;  that  he  had  given  us  one  good  start,  and  now,  after  three 
and  a  half  years,  we  had  nothing  left  but  one  horse,  and  that 
he  thought  it  best  to  secure  a  home  for  me  and  the  child  in 
my  own  name. 

This  enraged  Mr.  Hill,  who  said  he  would  not  build  on  the 
lot  unless  the  deed  was  made  to  him,  as  he  was  the  head  of 
his  family.  Father  advised  him  to  think  it  over,  and  not 
to  act  rashly. 

He  sulked  for  a  time,  and  then  bargained  for  a  lot  in 
town,  after  which  he  hired  a  team,  and  hauled  the  lumber  off 
from  the  acre  to  the  lot,  and  began  to  build  the  house.  All 
this  time  we  were  living  off  father,  who  said  nothing;  but 
furnished  the  shingles,  and  told  Mr.  Hill  to  get  nails,  and 
anything  he  needed,  at  the  store,  on  his  account,  which  he 
did.  In  time,  the  roof  was  on,  and  the  kitchen  partly  finished, 
and  we  moved  in.  .  The  kitchen  was  so  open  that  the  skunks, 
which  were  very  numerous  in  that  region  at  that  time,  came 
mider  the  floor  nights,  and  up  into  the  kitchen,  where  they 
rattled  around  among  the  pots  and  pans,  even  jumping  on 
the  table,  and  devouring  the  food,  if  I  did  not  keep  every- 
thing securely  covered,  while  I  often  lay  and  listened  to 
their  nocturnal  antics,  not  daring  to  get  up  to  drive  them 
out,  as  the  dire  consequences  of  disturbing  them  suddenly 
were  well  known,  and  dreaded. 

My  health  was  poor.  I  had  not  been  strong  since  the 
baby  came,  and  I  could  not  seem  to  recover  from  the  effects 
of  the  fever.  The  baby  was  ill  and  fretful,  much  of  the 
time,  and  things  were  going  anything  but  smoothly.  A 
short  time  before  the  climax,  I  went  home  and  told  my 
parents  that  I  did  not  think  I  could  stand  it  much  longer. 


50  Dr.  Owens-Adair. 

Mother  was  indignant,  and  told  me  to  come  home,  and  let 
him  go ;  that  "any  man  that  could  not  make  a  living  with 
the  good  starts  and  help  he  has  had,  never  will  make  one; 
and  with  his  temper,  he  is  liable  to  kill  you  at  any  time." 

Father  broke  down,  and  shed  tears,  saying: 

"Oh,  Bethenia,  there  has  never  been  a  divorce  in  my 
family,  and  I  hope  there  never  will  be.  I  want  you  to  go 
back,  and  try  again,  and  do  your  best.  After  that,  if  you 
cannot  possibly  get  along,  come  home."  I  went  back,  greatly 
relieved,  for  I  knew  that  if  I  had  to  leave,  I  would  be  pro- 
tected. 

Our  trouble  usually  started  over  the  baby,  who  was  unus- 
ually cross.  He  was  such  a  sickly,  tiny  mite,  with  an  abnor- 
mal, voracious  appetite,  but  his  father  thought  him  old  enough 
to  be  trained  and  disciplined,  and  would  spank  him  unmer- 
cifully because  he  cried.  This  I  could  not  endure,  and  war 
would  be  precipitated  at  once.  A  few  days  before  our  sepa- 
ration, his  father  fed  him  six  hard-boiled  eggs  at  supper,  in 
spite  of  all  I  could  do  or  say.  I  slept  little  that  night, 
expecting  that  the  child  would  be  in  convulsions  before 
morning.  And  thus  one  thing  led  to  another  until  the 
climax  was  reached. 

Early  one  morning  in  March,  after  a  tempestuous  scene 
of  this  sort,  Mr.  Hill  threw  the  baby  on  the  bed,  and  rushed 
down  in  town.  As  soon  as  he  was  out  of  sight,  I  put  on  my 
hat  and  shawl,  and,  gathering  a  few  necessaries  together 
for  the  baby,  I  flew  over  to  father's. 

I  found  my  brother  ferrying  a  man  across  the  river,  and 
I  went  back  with  him.  By  this  time,  I  was  almost  in  a 
state  of  collapse,  as  I  had  ran  all  the  way, — about  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile.  Brother,  seeing  that  something  was 
wrong,  and  always  ready  to  smooth  out  the  wrinkles,  took 
the  baby  with  a  smile,  saying :  "Give  me  that  little  'piggy- 
wig"  ;  and  shall  I  take  you  under  my  other  arm  ?  It  seems 
to  me  you're  getting  smaller  every  year.     Now,  just  hang 


SoMK  OK  ITkr  T.ifk  Experiences.  51 

on  to  mc,  and  I'll  get  you  ii])  the  liill,  all  ri^lit.  Mother  will 
have  breakfast  ready,  and  I  guess  a  gfx)d  square  meal  is 
what  you  need." 

The  next  day  father  saw  Mr.  Hill,  and  found  he  had  been 
trying  to  sell  the  house  and  lot.  Father  told  him  that  he 
would  come  with  me  to  get  my  clothes,  and  a  few  things  I 
needed,  and  that  he  (Mr.  Hill)  could  have  the  rest.  That 
he  (father)  would  take  care  of  me  from  that  time  on,  and 
that  when  he  (Mr.  Hill)  sold  the  house  and  lot,  I  would 
sign  the  deed,  as  the  lot  was  not  paid  for,  and  the  unfinished 
house  would,  according  to  law,  go  with  it. 

However,  before  Mr.  Hill  found  a  purchaser,  he  had 
repented,  and  come  several  times  to  get  me  to  go  back  to  him. 
I  said :  "Legrand,  I  have  told  you  many  times  that  if  we 
ever  did  separate,  I  would  never  go  back,  and  I  never  will." 


52  De.  Owens  -  Adair. 


,  CHAPTER  V. 

And  now,  at  eighteen  years  of  age,  I  found  myself,  broken 
in  spirit  and  health,  again  in  my  father's  house,  from  which, 
only  four  short  years  before,  I  had  gone  with  such  a  happy 
heart,  and  such  bright  hopes  for  the  future. 

It  seemed  to  me  now  that  I  should  never  be  happy  or 
strong  again.  I  was,  indeed,  surrounded  with  difficulties 
seemingly  insurmountable, — a  husband  for  whom  I  had  lost 
all  love  and  respect,  a  divorce,  the  stigma  of  which  would 
cling  to  me  all  my  future  life,  and  a  sickly  babe  of  two 
years  in  my  arms,  all  rose  darkly  before  me. 

At  this  time,  I  could  scarcely  read  or  write,  and  four 
years  of  trials,  and  hardships  and  privations  sufficient  to 
crush  a  mature  woman,  had  wrought  a  painful  change  in 
the  fresh,  blooming  child  who  had  so  buoyantly  taken  the 
duties  and  burdens  of  wifehood  and  motherhood  on  her 
young  shoulders.  I  realized  my  position  fully,  and  resolved 
to  meet  it  bravely,  and  do  my  very  best. 

Surrounded  with  an  atmosphere  of  affection  and  cheerful- 
ness, with  an  abundance  of  nourishing  food,  my  health 
rapidly  returned,  and  with  it  came  an  increasing  desire  for 
education,  that  I  might  fit  myself  for  the  duties  of  a  mother, 
and  for  the  life  yet  before  me. 

At  this  time,  there  was  asi  good  a  school  as  the  country 
then  afforded  in  Roseburg,  distanf  not  more  than  half  a  mile. 

My  little  George,  too,  felt  the  beneficial  change,  fully  as 
much  as  I  did,  for  my  mother's  idea  of  raising  children 
could  not  be  improved  upon — simply  to  give  them  sufficient 
wholesome  food,  keep  them  clean  and  happy,  and  let  them 
live  out  of  door  as  much  as  possible. 

George  was  such  a  tiny  creature,  and  so  active  in  his 
movements  that  my  young  brothers  and  sisters  felt  him  no 


Some  of  TTi;i{  T.iric  Experiences.  53 

burden,  and  always  had  Iiim  willi  llicm  out  of  doors;  so 
after  ponderinp^  the  matter  for  some  time,  I  said  one  day: 

"Mother,  do  you  think  I  might  manage  to  go  to  school?" 

"Why,  yes,"  she  answered ;  "go  right  along.  George  is 
no  troulile.    The  children  will  take  care  of  him." 

I  joyfully  accepted  this  opportunity,  and  from  that  day 
on,  I  was  up  early  and  out  to  the  barn,  assisting  with  the 
milking,  and  doing  all  the  work  possible  in  the  house,  until 
8  :30,  when  T  went  to  school  with  the  children,  my  younger 
brothers  and  sisters.  Saturdays,  with  the  aid  of  the  children, 
I  did  the  washing  and  ironing  of  the  family,  and  kept  up 
with  my  studies. 

At  the  end  of  my  first  four  months'  term  I  had  finished  the 
third  reader,  and  made  good  progress  with  my  other  studies 
of  spelling,  writing,  geography  and  arithmetic. 

In  September,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hobson  (Mrs.  Hobson  was 
my  eldest  sister,  Diana)  came  to  visit  us ;  and  on  their  return 
home,  Diana  begged  me  to  go  home  with  them,  and  I  went. 

With  a  light  wagon,  and  a  span  of  good  horses,  the  trip 
over  the  same  road  and  beautiful  country  through  which  I 
had  passed  five  years  before,  was  delightful. 

Soon  after  we  reached  my  sister's  home  on  Clatsop,  only 
two  miles  from  my  father's  old  farm,  we  went  on  a  visit  to 
our  good  and  worthy  neighbor,  Mrs.  Morrison,  who  said 
to  me : 

"Bethenia,  why  did  you  leave  your  husband?" 

"Because  he  whipped  my  baby  unmercifully,  and  struck 
and  choked  me, — and  I  was  never  born  to  be  struck  by 
mortal  man !" 

"But  did  he  commit  adultery?" 

"No." 

"Then,  my  dear  child,  take  my  advice,  and  go  back,  and 
beg  him  on  your  knees  to  receive  you, — for  the  scriptures 
forbid  the  separation  of  man  and  wife  for  any  other  cause 
than  adultery." 


54  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

I  replied :  "I  think  there  are  other  things  quite  as  bad 
as  that."     She  shook  her  head,  with  deep  gravity,  saying: 

"]\Iv  child,  you  must  not  set  up  your  opinion  against  the 
Holy  Bible." 

Several  years  later,  when  I  was  again  on  Clatsop,  Mrs. 
■Morrison  gave  a  quilting  party,  to  which  the  whole  neighbor- 
hood was  invited.  The  weather  was  propitious,  and  every- 
body was  expected  to  come  early.  The  night  before  the 
party,  a  daughter  of  ]\'rs.  Morrison,  herself  the  mother  of 
a  large  family,  and  expecting  another  soon,  fled  from  her 
home  and  brutal  husband,  to  her  father's  house  for  protec- 
tion. Her  arms  and  face  were  bruised  and  swollen,  and  the 
livid  marks  of  his  cruel  fingers  were  on  her  throat ! 

This  was  a  terrible  shock  to  the  dear  old  lady's  ideas  of 
Bible  interpretation,  and  when  she  saw  me  the  next  day,  like 
the  honest,  sincere  Christian  that  she  was,  she  walked 
promptly  up  to  me,  and  said,  with  much  emotion : 

"Bethenia,  a  few  years  ago  I  chastised  you  because  you 
left  }-our  husband  for  brutal  abuse.  God  has  justly  punished 
me,  and  now,  before  all  these  women,  I  want  to  ask  your 
forgiveness.  When  I  saw  my  own  child  bruised  and  mutil- 
ated, T  realized  that  there  are  things  as  bad  as  adultery." 

I  threw  my  arms  around  that  dear  old  neck,  and  we 
mingled  our  tears  together. 

Long  years  after,  when  her  time  had  come  to  bid  this 
earth  adieu,  and  I  was  called  to  attend  her  professionally,  at 
her  bedside  I  met  her  three  daughters,  now  past  the  meridian 
of  life,  with  kind  faces  and  beautiful  gray  hair,  all  lovingly 
anxious  to  make  their  beloved  mother's  last  hours  as  peaceful 
as  possible.  It  has  never  been  my  lot  to  Avitness  a  death- 
bed where  more  Christian  devotion  and  resignation  were 
manifested.  A  few  years  later,  when  Captain  Morrison,  her 
husband,  received  his  last  call,  and  followed  his  saintly  wife, 
I  was  again  summoned  to  render  my  professional  services. 

And  still  later,  when  the  secretary  of  the  Pioneer  Asso- 


SoMK  OF  TTkr  I.ii-e  Experiences.  56 

ciation  asked  mc  to  write  biographical  sketches  of  all  the 
Clatsop  pioneer  women  coming-  to  Oregon  prior  to  1849,  to 
be  i)reservc(l  in  the  archives  of  the  society,  I  did  not  forget 
to  record  tlic  heroic  deeds  and  self-sacrificing  life  of  this 
grand  woman,  likening  her,  as  her  majestic  carriage  and 
exaltetl  character  well  deserve,  to  Joan  of  Arc. 

Before  going  to  Clatsop,  in  the  fall  of  1859,  with  my 
sister,  I  applied  for  a  divorce,  and  the  custody  of  my  child, 
and  petitioned  for  the  restoration  of  my  maiden  name  of 
Owens. 

In  the  spring  of  1859,  my  brother  Flem  met  me  in  Salem 
with  a  team,  and  together  we  returned  to  Roseburg  in  time 
for  the  session  of  court  before  which  my  case  was  to  appear. 

The  suit  was  strongly  contested  on  account  of  the  child, 
which  Mr.  Hill's  widowed  mother  was  anxious  to  have, 
thinking  her  son  would  be  thus  induced  to  make  his  home 
with  her,  so  that  she  might  remain  in  her  own  home,  all  her 
other  children  now  having  homes  of  their  own. 

My  father  employed  Hon.  Stephen  F.  Chadwick  on  my 
behalf,  and  he  won  my  suit,  including  the  custody  of  my 
child,  and  the  permission  to  resume  my  maiden  name. 

A  circumstance  which  seems  stranger  than  fiction  occurred 
more  than  thirty  years  later,  when  I  was  visiting  Ex-Gov- 
ernor and  Mrs.  Chadwick,  at  their  home  in  Salem  by  special 
invitation,  during  the  session  of  the  Legislature. 

They  had  visited  us  at  our  home  in  Sunnymead  the  sum- 
mer before. 

The  Governor  met  me  at  the  train,  and  seemed  about  in 
his  usual  health.  We  all  attended  the  session  of  the  Legis- 
lature that  afternoon.  At  dinner  the  Governor  had  been 
conversing  animatedly  in  his  usual  happy  strain. 

"Jane,"  he  said  to  his  wife,  "we'll  give  the  doctor  a  feast 
next  Thursday  evening.  You  know  we  are  to  have  our 
church  social  then." 

His  daughter  Mary  who  had  just  riaen  to  cliange  his 
plate,  remarked : 


56  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

"We  may  not  find  so  much  to  eat." 

"Oh,  yes,  we  shall,"  he  rejoined ;  "I  know  how  to  get  the 
best,  and  we  will  have  it." 

At  that  moment,  as  his  daughter  moved  toward  the  side- 
board, he  gave  a  little  characteristic  cough,  and  she  said: 
"Shall  I  get  you  a  glass  of  water,  papa?" 

"No,  I  thank  you,"  was  his  reply. 

Turning  toward  the  table  the  next  instant  with  the  dessert 
in  her  hand,  she  gave  a  piercing  scream. 

I  was  sitting  between  him  and  his  wife. 

Startled  and  alarmed,  I  looked  up  instantly,  and  saw  the 
Governor  sitting  bolt  upright,  his  head  thrown  back,  and 
his  face  livid.  I  sprang  to  his  side,  laid  him  prone  on  the 
floor,  and  loosened  his  clothes,  but  to  no  avail.  That  noble 
heart  was  still; — the  Governor  was  dead! 

Never,  never  before  did  I  so  deeply,  keenly  feel  how  true 
it  is  that  in  the  midst  of  life  and  joy  come  sorrow  and  death. 

In  the  unexcelled  language  of  Mrs.  Hemans — 

"Leaves  have  their  time  to  fall, 

And  flowers  to  wither  at  the  north  wind's  breath, 

And  stars  to  set, — but  all 

Thou  hast  all  seasons  for  thine  own,  oh  Death. 

Thou  art  where  friend  meets  friend, 

Beneath  the  shadow  of  the  elm  to  rest; — 

Thou  art  where  foe  meets  foe,   and  trumpets  rend 
The  skies,  and  swords  beat  down  the  princely  crest." 

After  the  decree  of  the  court  was  rendered  giving  me 
custody  of  my  child,  and  my  father's  name,  which  I  have 
never  since  discarded,  and  never  will,  I  felt  like  a  free 
woman. 

The  world  began  to  look  bright  once  more,  as  with  renewed 
vigor  and  reviving  hope,  I  sought  work  in  all  honorable 
directions,  even  accepting  washing,  which  was  one  of  the 
most  profitable  occupations  among  the  few  considered 
"proper"  for  wonien  in  those  days. 


Some  of  Iliiu  J^U'E  Exi-iiKiKNCKs.  .67 

(I  am  here  reminded  of  a  cliaractcristic,  courageous,  and, 
at  the  time,  iconoclastic,  declaration  by  Mrs.  Duniway  in 
the  New  Northwest,  at  the  time  of  the  bitter  uprising  against 
Chinese  labor,  and  the  summary  expulsion  of  all  Chinese 
from  many  localities  on  the  Pacific  Coast,  to-wit:  "White 
men  will  not  wash.  White  women  have  no  business  to 
wash,  and  we  must  have  Chinamen  for  that  purpose!") 

My  father  objected  to  my  doing  washing  for  a  living, 
and  said : 

"Why  can't  you  be  contented  to  stay  at  home  with  us ;  I 
am  able  to  support  you  and  your  child?" 

But  no.  No  amount  of  argument  would  shake  my  deter- 
mination to  earn  my  own  livelihood,  and  that  of  my  child, 
so  father  bought  me  a  sewing-machine,  the  first  that  ever 
came  into  that  town,  and  so,  with  sewing  and  nursing,  a 
year  passed  very  profitably. 

My  sister,  Mrs.  Hobson,  now  urged  me  to  return  to  her 
on  Clatsop,  as  she  greatly  needed  my  help.  I  went,  but  soon 
became  restless,  because  of  my  intense  thirst  for  learning. 
An  education  I  must  have,  at  whatever  cost.  Late  in  the 
fall  of  18G0,  sister  and  I  went  over  to  Oysterville,  Wash.,  to 
visit  my  old  and  much-beloved  girl-friend,  M'rs.  S.  S.  i\Iun- 
son.  The  few  days  which  my  sister  had  arranged  to  stay, 
passed  all  too  quickly,  so  Captain  and  Mrs.  Munson  assured 
Mrs.  Hobson  that  they  would  see  that  I  reached  home  safely 
if  I  might  stay  till  we  "got  our  visit  out." 

I  told  Mrs.  Munson  of  my  great  anxiety  for  an  education, 
and  she  immediately  said : 

"Why  not,  then,  stay  with  me,  and  go  to  school?  We 
have  a  good  school  here,  and  I  should  like  so  much  to  have 
you  with  me,  especially  farther  on." 

To  this  generous  offer  I  replied  that  I  would  gladly  accept 
it  if  I  could  only  find  some  way  of  earning  ni}-  necessar}' 
expenses  while  attending  school.     Mrs.  Munson  replied : 

"There  are  my  brother  and  his  hired  man;  I  can  get  you 


58  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

their  washing,  which  will  bring  you  in  from  $1.00  to  $1.50 
per  week,  which  will  be  all  you  will  need." 

To  this  I  gratefully  assented ;  and  I  did  their  washing 
evenings.  Work  to  me  then,  was  scarcely  more  than  play, 
and,  as  "change  in  work  brings  rest,"  I  assisted  in  the  other 
domestic  work  with  pleasure,  especially  as  Mrs.  Munson  was 
a  methodical  and  excellent  housekeeper,  and  I  loved  and 
enjoyed  order  and  neatness  in  the  home  above  all  things. 

Thus  passed  one  of  the  pleasantest,  and  most  profitable 
winters  of  my  life,  while,  "whetted  by  what  it  fed  on,"  my 
desire  for  knowledge  grew  daily  stronger. 

My  sister,  Mrs.  Hobson,  now  urged  me  to  come  back  to 
her,  and  I  said  to  her : 

"I  am  determined  to  get  at  least  a  common  school  educa- 
tion. I  now  know  that  I  can  support  and  educate  myself 
and  my  boy,  and  I  am  resolved  to  do  it;  furthermore,  I  do 
not  intend  to  do  it  over  the  washtub,  either.  Nor  will  I 
any  longer  work  for  my  board  and  clothes,  alone.  You  need 
me,  and  I  am  willing  to  stay  with  you  the  next  six  months, 
if  you  will  arrange  for  me  to  go  to  school  in  Astoria  next 
winter." 

She  agreed  to  this.  Some  time  later,  I  said  to  her  :  "Diana, 
don't  you  think  I  could  teach  a  little  summer  school  here 
on  the  plains  ?  I  can  rise  at  four,  and  help  with  the  milking, 
and  get  all  the  other  work  done  by  8  a.  m.,  and  I  can  do  the 
washing  mornings  and  evenings,  and  on  Saturdays." 

She  said:  "You  can  try,"  so  the  following  day  I  asked 
Mr.  Hobson  if  he  would  not  get  up  a  little  school  for  me. 
He  replied : 

"Take  the  horse  and  go  around  among  the  neighbors  and 
work  it  up  yourself." 

I  lost  no  time  in  carrying  out  his  suggestion,  and  succeeded 
in  getting  the  promise  of  sixteen  pupils,  for  which  I  was  to 
receive  $8  each  for  three  months. 

This  was  my  first  attempt  to  instruct  others. 


Some  oi-  ih:ii  Lii'e  Expekikncks.  59 

I  taught  my  school  in  the  old  Presbyterian  church, — the 
first  Presbyterian  church-building  ever  erected  in  Oregon. 
Of  my  sixteen  pupils,  there  were  three  who  were  more 
advanced  than  myself,  but  I  took  their  books  home  with  me 
nights,  and,  with  the  help  of  my  brother-in-law,  I  managed 
to  prepare  the  lessons  beforehand,  and  they  never  suspected 
my  incompetency. 

From  this  school  I  received  my  first  little  fortune  of  $25 ; 
and  I  added  to  this  by  picking  wild  blackberries  at  odd  times, 
which  found  a  ready  sale  at  fifty  cents  a  gallon. 

Fall  found  me  settled  at  the  old  Boelling  hotel  in  Astoria, 
with  my  nephew,  Frank  Hobson,  and  my  little  son  George. 
Our  board  was  paid,  I  taking  care  of  our  small  room,  and  our 
clothes,  with  the  privilege  of  doing  our  washing  and  ironing 
on  Saturdays.  And  now  I  encountered  one  of  my  sharpest 
trials,  for,  on  entering  school,  and  being  examined  in  mental 
arithmetic,  I  was  placed  in  the  primary  class ! 

Mr.  Deardorff,  the  principal,  kindly  offered  to  assist  me  in 
that  study  after  school,  and,  later,  permitted  me  to  enter 
both  classes.  Words  can  never  express  my  humiliation  at 
having  to  recite  with  children  of  from  eight  to  fourteen  years 
of  age.  This,  however,  was  of  brief  duration,  for  in  a  few 
weeks  I  had  advanced  to  the  next  class  above,  and  was  soon 
allowed  to  enter  the  third  (and  highest)  class  in  mental 
arithmetic. 

At  the  end  of  the  term  of  nine  months,  I  had  passed  into 
most  of  the  advanced  classes ; — not  that  I  was  an  apt  scholar, 
for  my  knowledge  has  always  been  acquired  by  the  hardest 
labor, — but  by  sheer  determination,  industr}-  and  persever- 
ance. At  4  a.  m.  my  lamp  was  always  burning,  and  I  was 
poring  over  my  books, — never  allowing  myself  more  than 
eight  hours  for  sleep. 

Nothing  was  permitted  to  come  between  me  and  this,  the 
greatest  opportunity  of  my  life. 

The   following  summer   was   spent  on   Clatsop   with   my 


60  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

sister,  milking,  making  butter,  and  assisting  in  all  the  labor- 
ious, and  never-ending  work  of  a  well-managed  farm. 

This  was  now  1862,  during  the  civil  war,  and  the  State 
had  called  upon  the  counties  to  contribute  to  the  Sanitary 
Commission,  organized  for  the  aid  and  comfort  of  our  sol- 
diers in  the  field.  Public  interest  and  sympathy  in  the  cause 
was  intense,  and  all  were  ready  to  do  their  part. 

It  was  suggested,  among  other  things,  that  Clatsop,  being 
a  dairy  region,  should  furnish  a  mammoth  cheese ; — but  who 
was  able  to  make  it,  and  where  could  a  hoop  of  sufficient 
size  be  found? 

It  so  happened  that  Mr.  Hobson  had  a  man  working  for 
him  who  had  made  cheese,  and  understood  the  process.  He 
and  I,  therefore,  voluntered  to  attempt  the  manufacture  of 
the  caseous  monster,  the  milk  to  be  furnished  by  the  county. 
Milk  was  then  abundant,  and  Mr.  Hobson  suggested  that  a 
small  hogshead  might  answer  for  a  hoop,  by  sawing  off  both 
ends,  and  using  the  middle,  the  iron  bands  around  whicli 
could  be  filed  off  after  the  cheese  was  made.    This  was  done. 

Several  of  the  huge  pots  then  so  much  in  use  for  washing 
and  soap-boiling,  were  provided,  and  also  a  number  of  large 
tubs  for  setting  the  curd ;  and,  with  an  improvised  press,  we 
were  ready  for  the  milk,  which  came  in  in  lavish  abundance, 
for  this  was  everybody's  cheese. 

When  finished,  the  cheese  was  pronounced  a  complete 
success,  and  it  certainly  was,  in  size. 

Previous  to  the  State  Fair,  where  it  was  to  be  exhibited 
before  its  final'  disposal,  it  was  taken  to  Astoria,  where  it 
was  sold  at  auction,  sold  and  re-sold  until  the  sum  of  $145 
was  realized  in  Clatsop  county  from  our  big  cheese,  for  the 
good  cause. 

After  this,  I  was  chosen  to  convey  it,  in  the  name  of  Clat- 
sop county,  to  the  State  Fair  at  Salem,  the  capital,  where, 
notwithstanding  my  assertion  that  I  did  not  deserve  it  all, 
the  full  credit  for  it  was  given  to  me,  and  circulars  were  sent 


Some  of  IIkii  Life  Experiences.  61 

out  setting  forth  in  staring  head-lines : 

MRS.    OWENS'    BIG    CHEESE    FROM    CLATSOP 

COUNTY ! ! 
IT  HAS  ALREADY  BROUGHT  $145  IN  ASTORIA!!! 
It  will  be  on  exhibition  at  the  State  Fair  in  Salenij  after 
which  it  will  be  re-sold,  and  it  and  its  proceeds  sent  to  the 
soldiers  in  the  field  I ! 

This  program  was  carried  out,  and  I  afterward  heard 
that  the  total  proceeds  from  our  big  cheese  were  between 
four  and  five  hundred   dollars. 

As  to  whether  the  cheese  itself  ever  reached  the  "boys  in 
blue,"  and  whether  or  not  they  found  it  palatable,  and 
digestible,   I  was  not  informed. 

Autumn  having  again  arrived,  I  rented  three  rooms  in 
what  was  then  known  as  the  "Old  Gray  House,"  in  Astoria, 
a  large,  square,  cupola-crowned  wooden  building,  erected  bv 
the  late  W.  H.  Gray,  author  of  a  history  of  Oregon,  and 
occupied  by  himself  and  family  for  a  number  of  years  as 
a  residence.  It  stood  on  the  beach,  its  front  resting  on  the 
ground,  and  its  back  supported  by  piles,  five  or  six  feet 
in  height,  over  the  waters  of  the  Columbia  river ;  so  that 
at  high  tide  the  house  Avas  almost  entirely  over  the  water, 
which  at  the  highest  tides  flowed  over  the  bank,  and  spread 
far  out  on  the  flats,  toward  the  hills,  requiring,  at  such 
times,  a  boat  to  reach  the  main  town.  This,  however,  was 
of  rare  occurrence. 

My  rooms  were  in  the  second  story,  and  several  rooms  on 
the  same  floor  were  occupied  by  a  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lowell, 
excellent  and  cultivated  young  people,  of  exceptional  per- 
sonal attractiveness.  Their  apartments  were  situated  im- 
mediately across  the  hall  from  mine,  and  there  were  many 
empty  rooms  in  the  spacious  old  building,  then  otherwise  un- 
occupied. 

Many  had  been  the  happy  social  gatherings  in  its  bos- 


62  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

pitable  parlors  below  when  occupied  by  Mr.  Gray,  his 
estimable  wife,  and  their  musically  gifted,  intelligent  and 
social  sons  and  daughters,  and  its  vacant  halls  seem  yet 
to  ring  with  the  sound  of  merry  laughter,  and  pleasant  voices 
of  the  past. 

Here,  in  three  small  rooms,  I  set  up  housekeeping,  with 
barely  the  necessary  furniture,  and  a  scanty  larder,  which 
was  supplied  by  my  savings  from  blackberry-picking,  and 
other  odd  jobs  of  sewing,  crocheting,  etc.  I  was  ready  and 
eager  for  school,  but  my  daily  expenses  (for  two,  as  my  child 
was  always  with  me,)  must  be  met,  and  this  is  how  it  was 
done :  I  engaged  to  do  the  washing  for  two  large  families, 
and  the  washing  and  ironing  for  another,  for  which  last  I 
received  two  dollars  weekly,  and  which  I  did  at  my  rooms, 
evenings  and  Saturdays. 

Sunday  night  found  me  and  little  George  at  Capt.  C.'s.  At 
4  a.  m.  Monday  I  was  in  the  kitchen  at  my  task.  George 
went  with  their  children  to  school  at  8  :30,  and  at  10  a.  m., 
my  washing  done,  I  followed  them. 

Monday  night,  and  Tuesday  morning,  this  program  was 
repeated  at  Dr.  T.'s. 

For  all  this  work,  I  received  five  dollars  each  week,  in- 
cluding the  kindest  treatment  from  all  my  employers.  This 
enabled  me  to  meet  all  my  expenses,  especially  as,  living  on 
the  beach,  George  and  I  were  able  to  pick  up  most  of  our 
wood  from  the  drift. 

Thus  I  was  as  happy  in  my  independence,  I  dare  say,  as 
is  John  D.  Rockefeller,  with  all  his  "tainted"  wealth,  and 
far  more  hopeful  for  the  long  future  yet  before  me. 

There  was,  at  this  time,  in  Astoria,  a  kind  and  estimable 
gentleman,  of  middle  age, — Capt.  A.  C.  Farnsworth,  by 
name,  a  Columbia  River  bar  pilot.  Being  a  special  friend 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hobson,  he  was  familiar  with  my  struggles 
for  an  education,  from  the  first. 

One  rainy  evening,  he  called  at  my  rooms.     George  had 


Some  of  IIeii  Life  Exi-kkiences.  63 

been  simply  tucked  into  bed,  and  I  was  ironing-  at  tbe  table, 
with  my  book  in  front  of  mc,  for  in  this  way  I  always 
studied  while  I  worked,  my  hands,  like  those  of  the  musician, 
being  trained  to  do  their  mechanical  part,  with  little  assist- 
ance from  my  brains,  whiqh  were  employed  mainly  else- 
where. 

Removing  his  heavy  overcoat,  and  seating  himself  by  the 
table,  Captain  Farnsworth  said : 

"Have  yoti  no  time  to  talk  ?" 

"Oh,  yes,"  I  responded ;  "I  can  talk  and  work,  too." 

"Well,"  he  continued,  "I  want  you  to  put  away  that  work. 
I  have  come  to  talk  with  you,  and  I  want  you  to  listen  well 
to  what  I  have  to  say." 

I  closed  the  book,  removed  the  ironing  cloth,  and  basket, 
and  sat  down,  not  knowing  what  was  coming,  but  feeling 
very  apprehensive.  He  saw  this,  and  smiling  reassuringly, 
said: 

"Don't  you  ever  get  tired?" 

"Oh,  yes,  but  I  get  rested  easily,  and  quickly." 

"How  long  do  you  expect  to  go  on  in  this  way?" 

"I  don't  know,"  I  answered. 

"I  do  not  like  to  see  you  working  in  this  way,"  he  con- 
tinued ;  "and  I  have  come  to  see  you  as  a  friend ;  and  I  want 
to  be  a  true  friend.  I  am  alone  in  the  world.  The  nearest 
relative  I  have  is  a  nephew.  I  have  more  money  than  I 
need,  and  I  think  I  cannot  do  better  with  it  than  help  you." 

Trembling,  and  with  moist  eyes,  I  exclaimed :  "No,  no ! 
I  cannot  take  money  from  you !" 

"Now  do  not  be  foolish,"  he  hastened  to  say;  "but  listen 
to  me.  I  know  you  are  thinking  it  will  compromise  you ; 
besides,  you  are  a  great  deal  too  independent  for  your  own 
good.  I  am  a  good  deal  older  than  you  are,  and  know 
vastly  more  of  the  world  than  you  do,  and  I  want  you  to 
thoroughly  understand  that  if  you  accept  the  ofter  I  make 
you,  you  are  never  to  feel  under  the  slightest  obligation  to 


64  Drx.  Owens  -  Adair. 

me.  ]\Iy  offer  is  this :  You  are  to  select,  and  attend  any 
school  in  the  United  States,  for  as  long  a  time  as  you  choose, 
and  I  will  furnish  the  money  for  all  the  expenses  of  3^ourself 
and  bo}',  and  no  one  shall  ever  know  from  me  where  the 
money  came  from.  If  you  say  so,  I  will  promise  never  even 
to  write  to  you." 

Could  there  have  been  a  more  generous,  unselfish  offer? 
I  was  now  in  tears,  but  my  self-will,  independence,  and  in- 
experience decided  me  to  refuse  it.  I  preferred  to  rely  on 
my  own  exertions,  rather  than  to  incur  such  an  obligation 
from  even  so  good  a  friend. 

The  acceptance  of  that  oft'er  would  doubtless  have  changed 
my  whole  life,  but  who  can  tell  if  for  better  or  for  worse? 

Captain  Farnsworth  was  thoroughly  disgusted  with  my 
obstinacy,  and,  though  he  continued  a  friend,  he  showed  less 
interest  in  me  from  that  time. 

I  am  free  to  acknowledge  that  many  were  the  times  during 
my  after  years  of  struggles  and  hardships,  in  my  supreme 
effort  to  get  ahead,  in  which  I  bitterly  repented  my  hasty 
decision,  feeling  that  it  was  the  mistake  of  my  life.  The 
acceptance  of  that  offer  Avould  have  far  earlier  opened  the 
doors  of  science,  and  saved  me  many  long  years  of  bitter 
experience,  and  irretrievably  lost  opportunities. 

Others,  also,  beside  my  generous  friend,  the  Captain,  had 
been  observant  of  my  efforts.  At  that  tim^  Col.  James 
Taylor  and  MSr.  David  Ingalls  were  the  school  directors  of 
that  district,  and,  as  the  wife  of  the  principal  was  prevented 
by  illness  from  continuing  as  assistant  in  the  school,  they 
generously  selected  me  to  fill  her  place  at  a  salary  of  $25 
per  month,  for  the  remaining  three  months  of  the  term.  This 
was,  indeed,  a  wave  of  prosperity !  And,  as  one  good  thing 
sometimes  brings  another,  I  was  offered  a  room  and  board, 
for  the  care  of  nine  rooms  in  a  private  boarding-house,  which 
I  promptly  accepted.  I  asked,  and  received,  permission, 
while  teaching  in  the  primary  department  of  the  school,  to 


SoMK  OF  IIkk  Liit,  F^xi-kiukncks.  05 

recite  in  two  of  the  advanced  classes.  1  also  joined  a  reading 
and  sing'ing  class  which  met  an  evening'  of  each  week. 

When  I  took  my  place  as  teacher  there,  a  young  lady  from 
( Jysterville,  who  was  far  ahead  of  me  when  I  attended  that 
school  with  her  two  years  hefore,  now  recited  to  me,  a  cir- 
cumstance that  wont  far  toward  removing  the  sting  of  humil- 
iation I  had  felt  on  heing  placed  in  the  jirimary  arithmetic 
class,  as  before  related.  I'cfore  the  expiration  of  this  term, 
I  had  received  an  offer  to  teach  a  three  months'  school  in 
Bruceport,  on  Shoalwater  Hay,  at  $25  per  month  and  board. 
"And  to  board  around." 

Judge  Cyrus  Olney  was  then  county  school  su])erintend- 
ent,  and  it  was  with  fear  and  termbling  that  T  ai)]:)lied  to  him 
for  examination  and  a  certificate.     But  he  said  to  me : 

"I  know  you  are  competent  to  teach  that  school.  I  have 
had  my  eye  on  you  for  over  a  year,  and  I  know  you  will  do 
your  duty.     I  will  send  you  a  certificate."     And  he  did. 

This  was  a  great  encouragement  to  me,  and  increased  my 
determination  to  do  my  best. 

I  accepted  the  school,  and,  with  ni}-  boy,  I  was  away  the 
very  next  day  after  my  Astoria  term  closed,  to  Bruceport, 
where  I  began  teaching  at  once.  After  I  had  taught  here 
two  weeks,  a  subscription  was  raised  among  the  few  fam- 
ilies, and  more  numerous  oystermen,  for  another  three 
months'  school,  (making  a  six  months'  term,  in  all). 

Before  this  was  completed,  I  received  and  accepted  an 
ofifer  of  the  Oysterville  school  (the  same  school  I  first  at- 
tended), where  I  "boarded  around,"  as  was  then  the  pre- 
vailing custom.  This  enabled  me  to  spend  more  time  with 
my  friends  the  ]\Iunsons,  my  friendship  with  whom  has 
never  grown  less ;  and  when,  over  forty  years  later.  Captain 
Munson  received  his  last  call  from  his  Great  Commander, 
mine  was  the  sadly  pleasant  task  of  covering  his  casket  with 
beautiful  flowers  from  my  garden, — flowers  not  more  fra- 
grant than  the  memory  of  his  constant  kindness  and  genial, 
generous  spirit  will  ever  be  to  me. 


60  De.  Owens  -  Adair. 

Tv  The^  Oysterville  school  then  had  the  undesirable  reputa- 
tion of  being  ungovernable,  and  it  was  my  reputation  for 
good  government  that  secured  me  the  situation,  a  reputation 
which  was  not  lessened  by  an  incident  that  transpired  soon 
after  I  took  charge  of  the  school. 

•  Among  my  pupils  was  a  well-grown  boy  of  eighteen.  He 
was  a  well-disposed  youth,  but  silly  and  injudicious  men  had 
guyed  him  about  haying  to  mind  a  "school  marm,"'  and 
for  a  "joke,"  had  put  him  up  to  breaking  the  rules,  which 
I  had  written  out,  and  hung  up  on  the  walls  of  the  school 
room. 

■  I  had  heard  of  this,  and  expected  trouble.  This  boy  whis- 
pered, and  I  rebuked  him,  explaining  the  necessity  for  the 
rule  forbidding  whispering  in  school,  in  the  presence  of  the 
children.  He  soon  repeated  the  offense,  however,  and  I  took 
no  outward  note  of  it,  though  aware  that  several  of  the 
pupils  knew  I  had  seen  him. 
.  On  dismissing  the  school,  I  said  to  him,  pleasantly : 

"Remain  after  school,  a  moment,  please ;  I  want  to  speak 
to  you." 

He  kept  his  seat,  and  as  the  last  child  passed  out,  I  locked 
the  door,  removing  the  key,  which  I  always  carried. 
-    Going  back  to  him,  I  said,  kindly : 

"I  know  you  are  not  a  bad  boy,  but  you  are  almost  a  man, 
and  you  should,  and  I  intend  you  shall,  set  a  good  example 
before  the  younger  members  of  this  school.  I  will  excuse 
you  this  time,  with  the  understanding  that  if  you  repeat  this 
offense,  I  will  have  to  punish  you  before  the  whole  school 
by  giving  you  ten  blows  on  the  open  hand  with  the  ferrule, 
and  if  you  attempt  to  resent  this  punishment,  I  will  call  in 
the  directors,  who  will  stand  by  and  see  it  administered,  for 
you  must  understand  clearly  that  I  am  mistress  of  this 
school.  You  may  go,  now,  and  I  hope  I  shall  have  no  more 
trouble  with  you."     I  had  none,  thereafter. 

The  curiosity  of  some  of  the  children  prompted  them  to 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  G7 

listen  outside,  and  thronpi'li  llic  thiti  l)oardcd  walls  they 
heard  all  that  was  said,  and  of  cr)ursc  repeated  it  so  that  it 
was  generally  known. 

On  receivinj^-  the  offer  of  the  Oysterville  school,  my  reply 
was :  "I  will  cnj^'age  to  teach  for  you,  if  the  directors  will 
pledge  their  support  to  the  government  of  the  school." 

This  they  readily  did.  There  were  three  pupils  in  that 
school  who  made  all  the  trouble; — an  Irish  girl,  and  two 
boys,  and  th.c  girl  was  the  ring-leader. 

It  was  not  long  before  one  of  these  boys  stuck  a  pin  into 
the  girl  sitting  in  front  of  him.  I  reprimanded  him,  but  he 
only  grinned  impertinently.  I  told  him  to  bring  his  lunch 
on  the  following  day,  and  stay  in  during  the  noon  hour.  He 
failed  to  make  his  appearance  the  next  morning,  but  in  the 
afternoon,  his  older  brother  came,  dragging  him  to  school. 
I  opened  the  door,  and  drew  him  in.  He  wore  heavy  shoes, 
and  in  his  rage,  he  kicked  me  viciously.  This  was  a  trifle 
more  than  my  temper  could  bear,  and  I  seized  him  by  the 
shoulder,  and  fairly  churned  the  bench  with  him,  which  sub- 
dued the  young  gentleman  (who  had  not  expected  to  en- 
counter such  muscle  in  a  lady)  in  short  order. 

At  the  close  of  the  school,  I  gave  him  his  choice  between 
remaining  in  during  the  noon  hour  for  one  week,  or  receiv- 
ing five  blows  on  each  palm  with  the  ferrule  at  once.  He 
chose  the  whipping,  and  I  administered  it. 

The  Irish  girl  was  living  with  one  of  the  directors,  who 
afterward  told  me  that  she  came  running  home  that  evening, 
exclaiming : 

"Well !  I  tell  you,  it's  no  use  fooling  with  that  teacher. 
She  don't  scare  worth  a  cent !" 

This  girl  of  twelve  proved  to  be  one  of  my  best  pupils, 
both  in  behavior  and  aptitude. 

Before  the  close  of  this  school  I  received  a  call  from  Clat- 
sop to  teach  a  four  months'  school  there,  at  $40  a  month,  and 
board  myself. 


68  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

It  was  again  spring ;  that  loveliest  season  of  the  year, 
when  Nature  clothes  the  brown  old  earth  with  richest  green, 
and  pours  out  upon  it  her  boundless  treasure  of  beautiful 
and  fragrant  blossoms ; — "The  time  of  the  singing  of  birds," 
when  my  heart  was  always  lightest. 

With  my  boy,  I  moved  into  the  old  parsonage  at  Skipanon, 
which  had  long  been  unoccupied,  and  had  been  used  for 
storing  hay. 

It  stood  in  the  midst  of  a  green,  grassy  plot,  now  made 
sweet  and  beautiful  by  the  thousands  of  wild  violets  and 
buttercups  sprinkled  over  it. 

This  I  could  have  free  of  cost,  and  so,  with  a  few  boards 
and  nails,  and  a  little  help  from  the  kind  neighbors,  two 
rooms  of  the  old  house  were  made  habitable,  for  the  spring 
and  summer  months.  I  was  as  "happy  as  a  lark."  I  was 
an  expert,  as  experts  went,  in  those  days,  on  the  sewing- 
machine,  and  with  the  crochet-needle.  Crocheted  nets  were 
then  much  in  vogue,  and  my  crochet-needle  was  kept  busy 
in  making  them.  My  work  was  always  ready  to  take  up, 
and  thus  every  else  unoccupied  moment  was  filled  in,  and 
thus  I  made  all  our  expenses  for  living,  and  more. 

I  had,  in  this  way,  so  far,  managed  to  save  up  all  my 
school  money,  and  at  the  end  of  this  term  of  four  months, 
at  $40  per  month,  I  would  have  $400.  My  ambition  now 
was  to  have  a  home  of  my  own,  and,  with  this  brilliant  pros- 
pect in  view,  I  bought  a  half  lot  in  Astoria,  and  contracted 
with  a  carpenter  to  build  me  a  small,  three-roomed  cottage, 
with  a  cosy  little  porch. 

To  this,  my  last  school,  I  can  look  back  with  pleasure  and 
satisfaction.  The  neighboring  farmers  and  their  families 
were  kindness  itself  to  me.  They  never  forgot  the  teacher, 
and  her  little  boy,  but  continually  brought  us  good  things 
to  eat,  and  invitations  to  visit  them  over  Sunday. 

I  was  invariably  up  by  five  o'clock,  looking  over  all  the 
lessons  for  the  day.  Then  came  breakfast,  and  at  8  :30  we 
were  off  for  the  pleasant  mile  walk  to  the  school-house. 


SoMi".  oi'  l(i;i;  Lii'i".  ['"xi'iiRii'iNCKs.  09 

Thus  tin-  four  iikhiIIis  sped  plc'isanlly  away,  aiul  when  my 
sch(x)l  closed,  my  little  home  in  Astoria  was  ready  for  mc. 
It  stood  on  the  hack  end  f)f  that  heauliful  and  sit^htly  lot 
on  which  1.  W.  Case,  the  hanker,  later  hnill  his  handsome 
residence.  I  was  as  proud  as  a  (jueen  of  my  pretty  little 
home,  which  was  the  first  T  had  ever  really  owned  ;  and  the 
fact  that    1   had  earned   it   all  ni\s(lf  made  it    douhl}-  prized. 

I  had  won  the  respect  of  all,  and  now  vv(jrk  came  to  me 
from  all  directions.  As  I  could  "turn  my  hand"  to  almost 
anything;',  and  was  anxious  to  accunuilate,  I  was  never  idle. 

During^  all  these  years,  Mr.  Hill  had  heen  writini^,  and 
urging-  me  to  re-marry  him,  which  I  kindly,  hut  steadily 
refused  to  do. 

One  winter  night  my  machine  was  buzzing  busily,  while 
I  sang  as  I  sewed.  There  was  a  knock,  I  opened  the  door, 
and  there  stood  the  father  of  my  child!  He  had  come  unan- 
nounced, thinking  that  his  sudden  appearance  might  over- 
come my  opposition. 

But  alas  for  him  !  He  found  not  the  voung,  ignorant, 
inexperienced  child-mother  whom  he  had  neglected  and  mis- 
used, but  a  full-grown,  self-reliant,  self-supporting  woman, 
who  could  look  upon  him  only  with  pity. 

He  soon  realized  that  there  was  now  a  gulf  between  us 
which  he  could  never  hope  to  cross. 

During  all  the  years  since  we  had  parted,  he  had  never 
even  offered  to  contribute  one  dollar  to  his  child's  support, 
nor  had  I  ever  received  a  dollar  from  any  source  which  I 
had  not  fully  earned.     He  said : 

"Can  I  come  and  take  my  boy  down  in  town  with  me 
tomorrow?  I  will  not  ask  you  to  awaken  him  tonight."  I 
answered:  "You  may,  if  you  will  promise  me  that  you  will 
not  try  to  run  oil  with  him.  as  you  have  so  often  threatened 
to  do."    He  said  : 

"I  will  promise  that." 

However,  not  daring  to  trust  his  word,  I  hastened,  earlv 


70  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

next  morning,  to  the  sheriff,  and  told  him  my  trouble,  and 
he  smiled  reassuringly,  as  he  said :  "Now  don't  you  worry, 
my  dear  little  woman,  he  will  never  get  out  of  this  town  with 
your  child." 


SOMK  (JF  IIkJC  LiKK  lixi'KKIICNCKS.  71 


CHAPTER  VI. 

In  the  fall  I  rented  my  little  home,  and  went  to  visit  my 
people  in  Roseburg.  My  brother  and  two  of  my  sisters 
had  married,  and  they  all  ur.^cd  me  to  spend  the  winter 
among  them. 

During  my  stage  trip  to  Roseburg,  as  we  were  descending 
a  hill,  one  very  cold  nighty  some  part  of  the  stage,  which 
was  only  a  common  farm  wagon  (a  "dead-ax  wagon"  they 
called  it  then)  gave  way.  The  driver  got  out,  and  seeing 
that  the  break  could  not  be  temporarily  repaired,  fit  for  im- 
mediate use,  he  said  to  me : 

"We  are  four  miles  from  the  next  station,  and  it  is  as 
cold  as  blazes!  Now  you  and  the  boy  just  lie  still,  and  try 
to  keep  warm  till  I  can  get  back  with  a  horse  for  you  to 
ride.  I'll  try  to  get  here  in  two  hours,  if  I  possibly  can ; 
but  it  is  dark,  and  the  road  is  rough,  so  don't  be  scared  if 
you  hear  the  wolves  howl ;  for  they  wall  not  touch  you.  I 
will  leave  two  of  the  horses  here,  in  order  to  get  back  as 
soon  as  possible." 

George  and  I  were  lying  in  the  bed  of  the  w^agon,  back 
ol  the  driver's  seat,  on  an  armful  of  straw,  under  a  blanket 
and  a  buffalo-robe.  We  had  been  comfortable  up  to  this 
time,  as  I  had  started  with  a  hot  brick,  but  it  was  growing 
colder,  and  now  we  began  to  become  chilled.  I  removed 
George's  shoes,  and  put  his  cold  feet  against  my  body,  and 
held  him  close  to  me. 

The  wolves  began  to  howl ;  the  wind,  laden  with  fine 
snow,  whistled  and  whirled  about  us.  The  wolves  kept  up 
their  dreary  howling ;  wdiile  the  horses  stamped,  and  champed 
their  bits,  for  they,  too,  were  cold,  and  liked  not  the  prox- 
imity of  the  wolves  no  better  than  did  w'e ;  but  I  was  glad 
of  their  companionship,  feeling  that  it  was  some  protection. 


72  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

It  was  all  of  two  and  a  half  hours  before  the  driver  and 
another  man  came  to  our  relief,  bringing  a  horse  for  me. 
They  wrapped  George  snugly  in  a  blanket,  and  we  started, 
the  driver  leading  the  other  horses. 

It  was  full  daylight  when  we  reached  the  station,  where 
we  were  thawed  out,  and  made  comfortable.  By  noon  we 
were  again  on  our  way  and  arrived  at  Roseburg  in  good 
time,  where  we  received  a  warm  welcome. 

Mr.  Abraham,  my  new  brother-in-law,  was  a  merchant, 
and,  among  them  all,  I  was  persuaded  to  go  into  the  business 
of  dressmaking  and  millinery.  Consequently,  when  spring 
opened,  I  established  myself  in  a  house  just  across  the  street 
from  Mr.  Abraham's  store,  he  buying  me  a  nice  little  stock 
of  goods.  Here  for  two  years  I  plodded  along,  working  early 
and  late,  and  getting  ahead  pecuniarily  much  faster  than 
I  had  ever  yet  done.  I  had  saved  my  earnings,  with  which 
I  had  bought  my  home  there,  and  had  a  good  start,  and  a 
growing  business,  with  plenty  to  eat,  drink  and  wear. 

]\Iy  front  yard,  12x20,  was  a  gorgeous  glory  of  color,  and 
my  beautiful  flowers  were  the  admiration  of  all  the  passers- 
by,  while  my  back  yard  supplied  an  abundance  of  vegetables. 

My  boy  was  in  school,  and  with  the  respect  of  the  com- 
munity, added,  why  was  I  not  happy  ?  I  was.  Work  brought 
its  own  pleasure,  and  sweet  rewards.  Five  a.  m.  never 
found  me  in  bed,  though  often  did  I  awake  at  two  a.  m.  in 
my  chair,  with  my  work  still  in  my  hand.  But  the  young 
are  soon  rested,  and  as  a  change  of  work  gives  rest  and 
health,  I  was  blest  with  both.  I  had  a  time  and  place  for 
everything,  and  I  have  found  adherence  to  this  rule  through- 
out my  life  to  be.  one  of  the  greatest  aids  to  success  in  any 
pursuit. 

It  was  also  then,  as  it  still  is,  my  habit  to  plan  today  for 
tomorrow.  And  now  I  am  going  over  my  past  life,  step  by 
step,  gleaning  here  and  there  what  I  hope  may  be  of  service 
to  those  who  come  after  me,  knowing  full  well  how  unde- 


SOMK  OK  TTkU   Lll'K  Kxi'KklKNCKS.  73 

sirable  and  secminji;-Iy  impossible  such  a  life  will  seem  to  the 
youth  of  today,  yd  l)clicvinp^  its  lessons  oujij^ht  to  be  of  use 
to  them  in  this  as^c  of  tecniinj^'-  wealth,  and  lavish  expendi- 
ture, surrounded  and  protected  as  they  are  from  all  the 
hardships  of  frontier  life,  with  the  fountains  of  knowledge 
flowing  free  for  them  to  drink,  "without  money,  and  with- 
out ])ricc." 

No  more  is  it  necessary  for  the  student  to  pore  over  the 
old,  thumb-worn  book,  b\'  the  light  of  a  pitch  stick,  or  a 
tow-string  in  a  broken  mug  of  refuse  kitchen  grease; — and 
yet  those  times  and  methods  produced  from  and  for  this 
nation  a  Franklin,  a  Jefferson,  a  Greeley,  a  Clay,  a  Webster, 
and  a  Lincoln,  and  a  host  of  others  of  less  transcendent 
fame,  but  who  possessed  the  sterling  qualities  of  intelligent, 
incorruptible  citizenship,  and  who  rendered  an  incalculable 
aggregate  of  invaluable  service  to  their  country,  and  whom, 
if  the  youth  of  this  generation  equal  they  will  do  well. 

The  very  conquering  of  the  apparently  insurmountable 
obstacles  to  their  progress  by  these  illustrious  citizens  of  our 
great  Republic  but  added  strength  and  luster  to  their  char- 
acter and  proved  their  worth,  as  does  the  emery  the  steel. 

The  results  of  the  methods  of  the  past  are  before  us,  and 
command  our  highest  admiration.  Time  will  tell  whether 
those  of  the  present  will  prove  a  blessing  or  a  curse  to  our 
beloved  land. 

As  I  have  already  said,  I  had  had  two  years  of  uninter- 
rupted success  in  my  millinery  and  dressmaking  business  m 
Roseburg.  The  town  had  steadily  grown,  and  now  a  new 
milliner  made  her  advent.  She  moved  in  next  door  to  me, 
and  came  right  in,  and  looked  me  over,  stock  and  all,  also 
getting  all  the  information  I  could  give  her.  She  told  me 
incidentally  that  she  had  been  a  milliner  for  years ;  that  she 
had  learned  the  trade,  and  understood  it  thoroughly,  and 
had  come  there  to  begin  business,  and  intended  to  remain. 

I  was  soon  made  to  feel  her  power.     She  laughed  at,  and 


74  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

ridiculed  1113-  pretensions,  saying  that  mine  was  only  a 
"picked-up"  business,  and  that  I  did  not  know  the  first  prin- 
ciples of  the  trade. 

"She  knew  how  to  bleach  and  whiten  all  kinds  of  leghorn 
and  white  straws ;  she  could  renew  and  make  over  all  shapes 
and  kinds  of"  hats ;  she  could  also  make  hat-blocks,  on  which 
to  press  and  shape  hats,  and  make  new  frames,"  all  of  which 
was  Greek  to  me,  practically  speaking.  She  came  late  in  the 
fall,  and  her  husband  went,  with  his  team,  throughout  the 
country,  gathering  up  all  the  old  hats,  and  advertising  his 
wife's  superior  work  as  a  milliner. 

All  this  was  not  only  humiliating  to  me  personally,  but 
was  a  severe  blow  to  my  business.  I  was  at  my  wits'  end 
to  know  what  to  do,  and  how  to  do  it.  One  beautiful  day 
I  sat  thinking  the  matter  over  while  eating  my  dinner  at  the 
table  in  front  of  a  window  which  overlooked  my  new  neigh- 
bor's kitchen  door.  I  had  seen  her  husband  drive  past  the 
evening  before,  and  unload  several  open  boxes  filled  with 
old  hats,  and  that  day  they  were  getting  ready  for  cleaning, 
bleaching,  and  pressing. 

They  set  a  table  out  in  the  sun,  and  placed  upon  it  two 
new  plaster  of  paris  hat-blocks.  Then  the  work  began,  not 
twenty  feet  from  me.  My  house  was  above  them,  so  that 
they  could  not  see  me,  but  I  could  not  only  see  them,  but 
could  hear  every  word  they  said. 

For  more  than  an  hour  I  sat  there,  and  in  that  brief  time 
I  learned  the  art  of  cleaning,  stiffening,  fitting,  bleaching, 
and  pressing  hats. 

Oh,  what  a-revelation  it  was  to  me !  My  heart  was  beating 
fast,  and  I  felt  that  I  had  never  learned  so  much  in  any 
one  hour  of  my  life  before.  I  saw  how  easily  it  was  all 
done,  and  how  much  profit  there  was  in  it. 

The  new  hats  that  year  were  very,  very  small  (''pan- 
cakes"), and  some  of  those  old-fashioned  hats  would  make 
three  of  them.     Certainly  two  new  ones  could  he  made  from 


Some  of  IIkk  Lu'K  Exi'Erii-:nci-:.s.  75 

each  of  most  of  the  ohl  ones.  Of  course,  the  remnants 
would  be  considered  useless  by  the  owners,  and  were  turned 
to  profit  by  the  cx])cjt  niilliticr. 

I  now  knew  that  if  I  could  f^et  the  blocks  I  could  do  the 
work,  so  T  stc|)])cd  down  to  the  new  milliner's  shop,  and 
asked  her  how  much  she  would  charj2^e  to  make  me  two 
blocks. 

She  said  :    "Thirty  dollars." 

I  said  :  "T  will  think  it  over.  I  did  not  expect  them  to 
be  so  higfh." 

"You  don't  expect  me  to  give  away  my  lousiness,  do  you?" 
she  asked.  Then,  snu'lins;-,  she  added,  "Can  you  press  hats?" 

I  passed  out,  and  as  the  door  closed,  I  heard  them  laug'h- 
ing  at  my  expense.  This  roused  me  almost  to  desperation, 
and  I  said  to  myself,  "The  day  will  come  when  I  will  show 
you  that  I  can  not  only  press  hats,  but  do  several  other 
things ;  and  first  of  all,  I  will  find  out  how  to  make  hat- 
blocks." 

I  now  remembe'red  a  book  I  possessed,  entitled,  "Inquire 
Within."  From  this  I  learned  how^  to  mix  plaster  of  paris 
for  molds,  and  this  gave  me  a  foundation  on  which  to  ex- 
periment.    T  had  the  buckram   frame,  like  those  two  new 

blocks  of  Mrs. ,  and  I  knew  they  must  have  made  and 

shaped  their  blocks  by  the  use  of  those  frames,  so  I  bought 
50  cents'  worth  of  plaster  of  paris  at  the  drug-store,  and  set 
to  work.  My  first  attempt  was  a  failure,  but  it  proved  to 
me  that  I  was  on  the  right  road.  I  was  in  such  a  state  of 
anxiety  and  excitement  that  I  slept  little  that  night. 

As  soon  as  the  stores  were  open  in  the  morning,  I  pur- 
chased a  dollar's  w-orth  of  plaster  of  paris.  During  that 
anxious,  wakeful  night,  I  had  gone  over  the  ground  thor- 
oughly in  my  mind,  and  was  confident  of  success ;  and  suc- 
ceed I  did. 

Words  failed  to  express  my  triumphant  joy  that  in  less 
than  twentv-four  hours,  I  had  obtained,  and  now  held,  the 


76  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

key  to  that  mysterious  knowledge  whose  wonderful  results 
had  charmed  away  my  customers. 

I  began  at  once  to  put  my  freshly  acquired  knowledge 
into  practice,  resolving  not  to  let  a  soul  know  how  it  was 
obtained. 

That  same  evening  a  lady  called,  bringing  an  old  white 
leghorn  hat. 

'T  want  one  of  those  little  'pancake'  hats  made  from  this," 
she  said.  "It  has  to  be  bleached  and  pressed,  you  know. 
Can  you  make  it  over?" 

"Certainly,  I  can,"  I  answered. 

"Oh,  I  am  so  glad !     Mrs. said  I  would  just  have  to 

take  it  to  the  new  milliner,  but  I  said  I  wasn't  going  to  throw 
off  on  you ;  I'd  come  here  first,  anyway.  Now  we'll  pick  out 
the  trimming.  Oh,  you  haven't  any  of  that  beautiful  lace 
bugle  fringe,  have  you?  I  must  have  that  for  the  rim,  it 
is  so  stylish,  now.  A^Irs.  has  it ;  would  you  mind  get- 
ting it  there?" 

"Oh,  no,  not  at  all,"  I  said. 

So,  when  the  hat  was  cleaned,  bleached,  stiffened  and 
pressed,  and  trimmed,  all  but  the  bugle  lace,  I  wrapped  it 
carefully,  and  with  the  package  in  my  hand,  I  walked  into 
the  store  of  my  rival  with  the  pride  of  a  full-grown  peacock. 

Laying  my  parcel  on  the  counter,  and  lifting  a  freshly- 
pressed  straw  braid  hat  of  the  same  style  as  mine  from  the 
block  which  she  kept  there  as  an  advertisement,  I  asked : 

"How  much  of  that  bugle  fringe  does  it  take  to  go  around 
this  hat?" 

"Three-quarters  of  a  yard ;  price,  $1.00  a  yard,"  was  her 
reply. 

I  laid  down  seventy-five  cents,  and  said  I  would  take 
three-quarters  of  a  yard.  As  she  was  measuring  it  off,  I 
said : 

"Please  put  a  pin  in  there,  till  I  see  if  it  will  be  enough," 
unwrapping  my  hat,  and  measuring  around  it  with  the  lace,. 


SoMic  oi'   IIi:k  Lii-I'.  1'".\i'i:i<ikncks.  77 

as  r  finislu'd  speaking'.  iMiidinj^^  il  siifficiciit,  I  (•li])|)C(l  it  off 
■with  my  belt  scissors  and  droppccl  it  into  ni\  liat  hc-fore  she 
could  object,  had  she  desired. 

"Whose  hat  is  that?"  she  asked. 

"It  is  one  I  have  just  made  over  for  f)ne  of  my  custom- 
ers," I  replied. 

"Who  pressed  it  ?" 

"I  did." 

"Who  made  the  block?" 

"I  made  it  myself,"  I  auswered,  and  ])assed  out.  I  heard 
no  laug'hing"  behind  me  this  time.  Surely  this  was  gratifica- 
tion enough  for  one  day.  vShe  now  knew  that  I  was  in  pos- 
session of  her  secrets,  but  how  I  had  learned  them  she  never 
knew. 

As  has  been  said,  I  set  about  putting  my  newly  acquired 
knowledge  into  practical  use.  Going  about  among  the  stores, 
I  bought  up  all  their  old,  out-of-date,  unsalable  millinery, 
for  almost  nothing,  and  began  at  once  to  prepare  it  for 
future  use,  knowing  that  the  fall  styles  in  straws  would  be 
in  demand  in  the  spring,  and  that,  in  this  way,  with  a  small 
stock  from  San  Francisco,  I  could  make  a  good  showing ; 
which  I  did.  But,  though  my  goods  were  in  every  way 
equal  to  those  of  my  rival,  the  customers  passed  me  by,  and 
bought  of  her.  She  managed  to  checkmate  me  at  every 
turn. 

Thus  the  summer  and  autumn  wore  away,  and  left  me 
stranded,  but  not  conquered.  My  time  had  not  all  been  lost, 
however,  and  I  knew  that  I  had  gained  much  that  would 
be  of  service  to  me  in  the  future. 

I  had  surmounted  other  formidable  difficulties,  and  I 
would  yet  wring  a  victory  out  of  this  defeat.  For  one  thing, 
I  had  learned  more  of  average  human  nature  during  that 
vear  than  I  had  in  all  my  previous  life,  and  I  saw  that  I  must 
convince  that  community  that  I  was  not  a  pretender,  but 
was,  in  reality,  mistress  of  my  business ;  and  that  could  not 


78  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

be  accomplished  alone  by  the  skillful  making  over  of  old 
hats  and  bonnets. 

Therefore,  in  November,  1867,  leaving  my  boy  in  charge 
of  a  minister  and  his  wife,  who  occupied  m}-^  little  home ;  and 
borrowing  $250,  I  left  for  San  Francisco. 

I  had  previously  announced  in  both  the  Roseburg  papers 
that  I  should  spend  the  winter  in  the  best  millinery  estab- 
lishment in  San  Francisco,  with  the  purpose  of  perfecting 
myself  in  the  business,  and  would  return  in  the  spring,  bring- 
ing with  me  all  the  latest  and  most  attractive  millinery.  This 
J  carried  out  to  the  letter. 

Bearing  letters  of  recommendation  from  two  of  the  prin- 
cipal merchants  of  Roseburg  who  dealt  with  Madame  Fouts, 
I  was  kindly  received  by  her,  and  given  every  advantage. 
For  three  months  I  sat  beside  her  head-trimmer,  where  I 
could  see  and  hear  everything.  Those  three  months  in  San 
Francisco  were  worth  more  to  me  than  ten  years  of  such 
opportunities  as  I  had  hitherto  had.  Madame  took  me  to 
the  wholesale  houses,  and  showed  me  how  to  purchase 
goods,  and  especially  how  to  select  odd  lots  of  nice,  but  out 
of  date  materials,  and  how  to  convert  these  into  new 
and  attractive  styles.  I  saw  her  daily  selling  hats  which  had 
not  cost  her  over  fifty  cents,  for  from  four  to  six  dollars. 
Meantime,  I  worked  only  on  my  own  goods,  and  when 
spring  came,  I  had  a  lovely  stock  secured  with  very  little 
expense.  I  wrote  home  ordering  a  show-window  put  into 
the  front  of  my  little  store, — almost  the  first  show-window 
in  that  town.  I  also  had  printed  announcements  struck  ofif, 
and  sent  on  ahead  to  all  of  my  patrons,  and  to  be  posted, 
stating  the  day  I  had  fixed  for  my  grand  opening. 

I  reached  home  a  week  or  ten  days  beforehand,  and  had 
everything  in  complete  and  elegant  readiness  at  the  ap- 
pointed time. 

I  now  felt  equal  to  the  situation,  and  was  mistress  of  my 
art,  a  fact  which  I  used  to  the  best  possible  advantage. 


Some  of  Her  Life  Exi'Kuii:nci:s.  70 

:  The  profits  from  the  sales  of  that  year  amounted  to  $1,500, 
and  the  business  eontinued  to  increase  as  long  jas  I  con- 
ducted it. 

In  1870,  I  jilaced  my  son  in  the  University  of  Califfjrnia, 
at  Berkeley-  I  had  always  had  a  fondness  for  nursing,  and 
had  developed  such  a  special  capacity  in  that  direction  by 
assisting  my  neighbors  in  illness,  that  I  was  more  and  more 
besieged  by  the  entreaties  of  my  friends  and  doctors,  which 
were  hard  to  refuse,  to  come  to  their  aid  in  sickness,  often- 
times to  the  detriment  of  business,  and  now  that  money 
came  easily,  a  desire  began  to  grow  within  me  for  a  medical 
education.  One  evening  I  was  sent  for  by  a  friend  with  a 
very  sick  child.  The  old  physician  in  my  presence  attempted 
to  use  an  instrument  for  the  relief  of  the  little  sufferer,  and, 
in  his  long,  bungling,  and  unsuccessful  attempt  he  geverely 
lacerated  the  tender  flesh  of  the  poor  little  girl.  At  last,  he 
laid  down  the  instrument  ,to  wipe  his  glasses.  I  picked  it 
up,  saying,  "Let  me  try,  Doctor,"  and  passed  it  instantly, 
with  perfect  ease,  bringing  immediate  relief  to  the  tortured 
child.  The  mother,  who  was  standing  by  in  agony  at  the 
sight  of  her  child's  mutilation,  threw  her  arms  around  my 
neck,  and  sobbed  out  her  thanks.  Not  so  the  doctor !  He 
did  not  appreciate  or  approve  of  my  interference,  and  he 
showed  his  displeasure  at  the  time  most  emphatically.  This 
apparently  unimportant  incident  really  decided  my  future 
course. 

A  few  days  later,  I  called  on  my  friend,  Dr.  Hamilton, 
and  confiding  to  him  iiiy  plans  and  ambitions,  I  asked  for  the 
loan  of  medical  books.  He  gave  me  Gray's  Anatomy.  I 
came  out  of  his  private  office  into  the  drug-store,  where  I 
saw  Hon.  S.  F.  Chadwick,  who  had  heard  the  conversation, 
and  who  came  promptly  forward  and  shook  my  hand 
warmly,  saying :  "Go  ahead.  It  is  in  you ;  let  it  come  out. 
You  will  win." 

The  Hon.  Jesse  Applegate,  my  dear  and  revered  friend. 


80  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair, 

who  had  fondled  me  as  a  babe,  was  the  one  other  person 
who  ever  gave  me  a  single  word  of  encouragement  to  study 
medicine. 

Realizing  that  I  should  meet  opposition,  especially  from 
my  own  family,  I  kept  my  own  counsel. 

I  now  began  in  good  earnest  to  arrange  my  business 
affairs  so  that  I  could  leave  for  the  East  in  one  year  from 
that  time,  meantime  studying  diligently  to  familiarize  my- 
self with  the  science  of  anatomy,  the  groundwork  of  my 
chosen  profession.  Later,  I  took  Mrs.  Duniway,  of  Port- 
land, editor  and  proprietor  of  The  Nezv  Northivest,  into  my 
confidence,  and  arranged  with  her  to  take  my  boy  into  her 
family,  and  give  him  work  on  her  paper. 

I  also  wrote  to  my  old  friend,  Mrs.  W.  L.  Adams,  of 
Portland,  and  asked  her  to  take  a  motherly  interest  in  my 
boy.     She  responded  promptly,  saying: 

"My  husband.  Dr.  Adams,  is  in  Philadelphia,  partly  for 
study,  and  partly  for  his  health.  Why  not  go  there?  He 
could  be  of  great  help  to  you,  and  it  would  be  a  relief  to 
me  to  know  that  you  were  near  in  case  of  sickness.  You 
can  trust  me  to  look  after  the  welfare  of  your  boy." 

This  letter  was  a  genuine  comfort  to  me,  and  I  decided  to 
accept  her  advice.  In  due  time,  I  announced  that  in  two 
weeks  I  would  leave  for  Philadelphia,  to  enter  a  medical 
school.  As  I  have  said,  I  expected  disapproval  from  my 
friends  and  relatives,  but  I  was  not  prepared  for  the  storm 
of  opposition  that  followed.  My  family  felt  that  they  were 
disgraced,  and  even  my  own  child  was  influenced  and  en- 
couraged to  think  that  I  was  doing  him  an  irreparable  injury, 
by  my  course.  People  sneered  and  laughed  derisively.  Most 
of  my  friends  seemed  to  consider  it  their  Christian  duty  to 
advise  against,  and  endeavor  to  prevent  me  taking  this  "fatal" 
step.  That  crucial  fortnight  was  a  period  in  my  life-  never 
to  be  forgotten.  I  was  literally  kept  on  the  rack.  But  as  all 
things  must  have  an  end,  the  day  of  my  departure  was  at 
last  at  hand. 


Some  of  IIeii  Lji"ii  ICxi'iCKiiiNrKs.  81 

My  son  had  p^one  to  Porllcuul,  and  my  family  liad  j^ivcn 
me  up  in  despair.  My  Inisincss,  all  in  jji'ood  shape,  was  en- 
trusted to  a  youn^'er  sister,  wIkj  had  heeii  with  me  for  the 
past  year  or  more. 

On  that  last  afternoon,  two  friends,  Mesdames  Sheridan 
and  Champaif^n.  called  to  say  ^ood-hye.  Mrs.  C.  Said: 

"Well,  this  heats  all !  I  always  did  think  you  were  a 
smart  woman,  hut  you  must  have  lost  your  senses,  and  ^one 
stark  crazy  to  leave  such  a  husincss  as  you  have,  and  run 
ofif  on  such  a  'wild  i^oose  chase'  as  this." 

I  smiled  and  said :  "You  will  change  your  mind  when  I 
come  hack  a  physician,  and  charge  you  more  than  I  ever 
have  for  your  hats  and  bonnets." 

Her  answer  came,  quick  and  sharp:  "Not  much!  You 
are  a  good  milliner,  but  I'll  never  have  a  woman  doctor  about 
me !" 

Choking  back  the  tears  with  a  desperate  effort,  I  calmly 
answered : 

"Time  will  tell.  People  have  been  known  to  change  their 
minds." 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  both  these  ladies  did,  in  after  years, 
call  upon  me  for  professional  services  many  times,  and  we 
laughed  together  on  recalling  that  conversation  in  Roseburg. 

Eleven  o'clock  p.  m.  arrived  at  last,  and  I  found  myself 
seated  in  the  California  overland  stage,  beginning  my  long 
journey  across  the  continent.  It  was  a  dark  and  stormy 
night,  and  I  was  the  only  only  inside  passenger.  There  was 
no  one  to  divert  my  thoughts  from  m}self,  or  prevent  the 
full  realization  of  the  dreary  and  desolate  sense  that  I  was 
starting  out  into  an  untried  world  alone,  with  only  my  own 
unaided  resources  to  carry  me  through.  The  full  moment 
of  what  I  had  undertaken  now  rose  before  me.  and  all  I 
had  left  behind  tugged  at  my  heart-strings.  My  crushed 
and  over- wrought  soul  cried  out  for  sympathy,  and  forced 
me  to  give  vent  to  my  pent-up  feelings  in  a  tiood  of  tears, 


82  De.  Owens  -  Adair. 

while  the  stage  floundered  on  through  mud  and  slush,  and 
the  rain  came  down  in  torrents,  as  if  sympathizing  Nature 
were  weeping  a  fitting  accompaniment  to  my  lonely,  sor- 
rowful mood. 

And  now  I  had  ample  opportunity  to  reason  and  reflect. 
I  remembered  that  every  great  trouble  of  my  life  had  proved 
a  blessing  in  disguise,  and  had  brought  me  renewed  strength 
and  courage. 

"For  so  tenderly  our  sorrows  hold  the  germs  of  future  joys, 
That  even  a  disappointment  brings  us  more  than  it  destroys." 

I  had  taken  the  decisive  step,  and  I  would  never  turn 
back.  Those  cheering  words  of  my  faithful  attorney,  Hon. 
S.  F.  Chadwick,  who  had  so  ably  defended  my  divorce  case, 
came  back  to  me  then  as  a  sweet  solace  to  my  wounded 
spirit :  "Go  ahead.  It  is  in  you ;  let  it  come  out.  You  will 
win !" 

How  many,  many  times  have  those  inspiring  words 
cheered  me  on  through  the  dark  hours  of  life. 

They  have  helped  me  through  countless  difficulties,  and 
knotty  problems,  which  have  since  confronted  me.  Let  us 
never  forget  or  neglect  to  speak  an  encouraging  word  when 
we  can.  It  costs  us  so  little,  and  is  worth  so  much  to  the 
recipient. 

I  strongly  resolved  that  if  there  was  anything  in  me,  .it 
should  come  out,  and  that,  come  what  might,  I  would 
succeed. 

We  are  told  that  when  the  decision  is  made,  the  battle  is 
half  won. 

My  decision  was  now  irrevocably  made,  and  I  was  com- 
forted. 

Stage  travel  was  no  hardship  to  me,  for,  like  the  sailor 
on  his  ship,  I  felt  at  home  in  the  stage.  For  several  years 
I  had  gone  to  San  Francisco  spring  and  fall  by  land,  when 
the  nearest  railroad  connection  was  at  Marysville,  Cal.  At 
that  time  Colonel  Hooker,  to  whom  Hon.  Jesse.  Applegate 
refers  in  his  letter,  was  superintendent  of  the  stage  line. 


SOMIi  OK  IIkII  Lu-E  I'^XI'IiRIKNCES.  83 

During'  the  last  three  years  I  had  given  much  thought  to 
woman  suffrage  and  temperance,  and  had  written  a  number 
of  articles  for  the  Roseburg  j>apers,  and  for  The  New  North- 
zvest,  on  these  subjects,  a  few  of  which  can  be  found  in  this 
volume  by  referring  to  the  index.  I  had  given  much  time 
and  labor  to  temperance  work,  and  had  served  in  the  highest 
office  of  the  I.  O.  (i.  T. 

On  reaching  Philadelphia,  I  matriculated  in  the  Eclectic 
School  of  Medicine,  and  employed  a  private  tutor.  I  also 
attended  the  lectures  and  clinics  in  the  great  Blockly  Hospi- 
tal twice  a  week,  as  did  all  the  medical  students  of  the  city. 
In  due  time,  I  received  my  degree,  and  returned  to  Rose- 
burg to  wind  up  my  business,  which  I  had  left  in  charge  of 
my  sister.  A  few  days  after  my  return,  an  old  man  without 
friends  died,  and  the  six  physicians  who  had  all  attended 
him  at  various  times,  decided  to  hold  an  autopsy.  At  their 
meeting,  Dr.  Palmer,  who  had  not  forgotten  my  former 
"impudence"'  in  using  his  instrument,  made  a  motion  to 
invite  the  new  "Philadelphia"  doctor  to  be  present.  This 
was  carried,  and  a  messenger  was  dispatched  to  me  with 
a  written  invitation.  I  knew  this  meant  no  honor  for  me, 
but  I  said :  "Give  the  doctors  my  compliments,  and  say  that 
I  will  be  there  in  a  few  minutes."  The  messenger  left,  and 
I  followed  close  behind  him.  I  waited  outside  until  he  went 
in  and  closed  the  door.     I  heard  him  say,  in  excited  tones : 

"She  said  to  give  you  her  compliments,  and  that  she'd 
be  here  in  a  minute."  Then  came  a  roar  of  laughter,  after 
which  I  quietly  opened  the  door  and  walked  in,  went  for- 
ward, and  shook  hands  with  Dr.  Hoover,  who  advanced  to 
meet  me,  saying: 

"Do  you  know  that  the  autopsy  is  on  the  genital  organs  ?" 

"No,"  I  answered ;  "but  one  part  of  the  human  body 
should  be  as  sacred  to  the  physician  as  another." 

Dr.  Palmer  here  stepped  back,  saying :  "I  object  to  a  wo- 
man's being  present  at  a  male  autopsy,  and  if  she  is  allowed 
to  remain.  I  shall  retire!" 


8-1  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

"I  came  here  by  written  invitation,"  I  said;  "and  I  will 
leave  it  to  a  vote  whether  I  go  or  stay ;  but  first,  I  would  like 
to  ask  Dr.  Palmer  what  is  the  difference  between  the  attend- 
ance of  a  woman  at  a  male  autopsy,  and  the  attendance  of  a 
man  at  a  female  autopsy?" 

Dr.  Hoover  said :  "Well,  I  voted  for  you  to  come,  and 
I  will  stick  to  it."  Another  said:  "I  voted  yes,  and  I'll  not 
g"o  back  on  it." 

Two  more  said  the  same,  making  a  majority  of  the  six. 
Dr.  Hamilton  then  said :  "I  did  not  vote,  but  I  have  no 
objection,"  thus  leaving  Dr.  Palmer  only,  who  said:  "Then 
I  will  retire,"  which  he  did  amid  the  cheers  and  laughter  of 
forty  or  fifty  men  and  boys  in  and  outside  the  old  shed, 
where  the  corpse  lay  on  a  board,  supported  by  two  saw- 
bucks,  and  covered  with  a  worn  gray  blanket.  They  were 
there  to  see  and  hear  all  that  was  to  be  seen  and  done. 

One  of  the  doctors  opened  an  old  medicine  case,  and 
offered  it  to  me. 

"You  do  not  want  me  to  do  the  work,  do  you  ?"  I  asked, 
in  surprise. 

"Oh,  yes,  yes,  go  ahead,"  he  said.  I  took  the  case  and 
complied.  The  news  of  what  was  going  on  had  spread  to 
every  house  in  town,  and  the  excitement  was  at  fever-heat. 

When  I  had  at  last  finished  the  dissection,  the  audience 
(not  the  doctors)  gave  me  tlixee  cheers.  As  I  passed  out 
and  down  on  my  way  home,  the  street  was  lined  on  both 
sides  with  men,  women  and  children,  all  anxious  to  get  a 
look  at  "the  woman  who  dared,"  to  see  what  sort  of  a 
strange,  anomalous  being  she  was.  The  women  were  shocked 
and  scandalized !  The  men  were  disgusted,  but  amused, 
thinking  it  "such  a  good  joke  on  the  doctors." 

When  I  moved  to  North  Yakima,  Wash.,  in  1899,  a  Mrs. 
Thomas  Redfield  called  on  me,  and  we  were  soon  fast 
friends.     At  our  first  meeting  she  said : 

"Of  course,  you  don't  remember  me,  but  I  remember  well 
the  first  time  I  ever  saw  you." 


SoMic  OF  TTki{  T.irK  l''xi-i:i<iKNCF,s.  85 

"Where  was  it  ?"   I   askc<l. 

"Well,"  lauf^hed  she,  "it  was  when  i  was  a  youn};  ^irl, 
and  we  lived  in  Roseburg.  I  was  on  the  street  with  the  rest 
of  the  erowd  to  see  you,  when  you  came  out  of  that  old  shed 
where  the  (l<)Clf)rs  were  holdinj^;-  the  autopsy  on  that  old 
man." 

"And   what   did  \(Hi  think  of  mc  then?" 

"Oh,  of  eoursc,  I  thou.^hl  you  were  a  terrible  woman! 
It  was  simply  dreadful  the  way  those  people  did  ^o  on  at 
that  time.  Isn't  it  wcMiderful  what  a  chang^e  has  taken  i)lace 
since  then  ?" 

"Yes,"  I  answered.  "I  suppose  they  felt  like  applying  a 
coat  of  tar  and  feathers  to  me  then  ;  and  it  is  a  wonder  they 
did  not." 

"Yes;  I  think  they  did." 

And  now,  as  I  look  back,  I  believe  that  all  that  saved  me 
w^as  the  fact  that  my  brothers,  Flem  and  Josiah,  lived  there, 
and,  although  they  disapproved  of  my  actions  quite  as  much 
as  the  rest  of  the  community  did,  yet  "blood  is  thicker  than 
water,"  and  they  would  have  died  in  their  tracks  before  they 
would  have  seen  me  subjected  to  indignities,  or  driven  out 
of  town.  And  as  everybody  knew  they  would  shoot  at  the 
drop  of  a  hat,  good  care  was  taken  to  lay  no  violent  hands 
on  me. 

I  did  not  stop  to  think,  at  the  time,  neither  did  I  pause  to 
consider  what  the  consequences  might  be :  I  was  prompted 
by  mv  natural  disposition  to  resent  an  insult,  which  I  knew 
was  intended. 

As  soon  as  possible  after  that  autopsy,  I  closed  up  my 
business,  and,  taking  my  sister,  and  the  remnant  of  my 
store  goods.  I  removed  to  Portland,  Oregon. 

I  frankly  admit  that  I  breathed  more  freely  after  I  had 
bidden  adieu  to  my  family  and  few  remaining  friends,  and 
was  on  board  the  train.  I  well  knew  that  it  was  a  relief, 
even  to  my  own  folks,  to  have  me  go,  for  it  did  seem  as  if 
I  w^ere  onlv  a  "thorn  in  the  flesh"  to  them  then. 


8fi  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

I  first  occupied  the  ground-floor  of  a  two-story  brick 
building  on  the  east  side  of  First  street,  between  Taylor  and 
Yamhill.  There  were  no  brick  buildings  in  Portland  south 
of  there  at  that  time.  I  had  two  rooms  fitted  up  for  elec- 
trical and  medicated  baths.  This  was  a  new  process  of 
treatment,  and  it,  in  connection  with  my  other  practice, 
proved  both  attractive  and  remunerative.  I  obtained  the 
knowledge  in  a  New  York  institution,  which  had  been  open 
but  a  short  time. 

There  was  but  one  man,  a  German,  in  Portland  who 
seemed  to  have  any  knowledge  of  electrical  batteries,  and  he 
found  much  trouble  in  keeping  my  batteries  in  running  order. 

I  was  now  well  settled,  and,  notwithstanding  occasional 
rebuffs  here  and  there,  and  frequent  slights  from  my  brother 
M.  D.'s,  I  went  steadily  on,  gaining  a  step  here,  and  a  point 
there,  and  constantly  advancing,  with  money  coming  in 
faster  and  faster. 

My  son  George  was  now  nineteen,  and  I  entered  him  in 
the  Medical  Department  of  the  Willamette  University.  It 
was  certainly  one  of  the  proudest  days  of  my  life  when  he 
was  graduated  from  it,  two  years  later.  From  the  begin- 
ning, I  had  set  my  heart  on  making  a  physician  of  him,  and 
at  last  my  life's  ambition  was  crowned  with  success. 

One  morning,  on  returning  from  my  round  of  profes- 
sional visits,  I  found  a  woman  lying  on  a  couch  in  my  office, 
with  her  husband  and  two  neighbors  beside  her.  She  was 
suffering  from  double  pneumonia,  and  when  I  first  saw  her 
I  did  not  think  she  could  live  till  night.  They  had  brought 
her  fifteen  miles  in  an  open  wagon  to  Vancouver,  and  from 
there  to  Portland  by  boat.     She  had  been  sick  for  a  year  or 


Some  of  TTiai  T.ifr  Exitcriivncrs.  87 

two,  and  they  liacl  brouf^ht  her  for  the  baths,  not  knowing- 
that  her  sudden  chang-c  for  the  worse  was  due  to  pneumonia. 
They  were  very  poor.  Before  she  died,  she  begged  me  to 
take  one  of  licr  Ihrcc  little  girls,  which  I  promised  to  do; 
and  a  few  days  later,  her  husband  brought  me  the  eldest, 
but  smallest,  of  the  three  sisters.  She  was  a  puny,  sickly 
looking  little  creature,  and  as  she  stood  beside  her  father, 
who  was  also  undersized,  in  her  old,  faded  calico  dress,  up 
to  her  knees,  her  stockings  tied  up  with  strings,  her  shoes 
out  at  the  toes,  and  holding  a  bundle  done  up  in  an  old  red 
cotton  handkerchief,  with  a  scared  look  on  her  pinched  little 
face,  the  pair  made  a  forlorn  picture  that  stamped  itself 
indelibly  on  my  memory. 

Taking  the  child  by  the  hand,  I  said :  "So  this  is  my 
little  girl?  Come  with  me.  This  is  you  home,  now."  To 
her  father :     "When  do  you  return  home  ?" 

"In  a  few  hours,"  was  his  reply;  "I  want  to  get  home,  as 
the  other  children  are  alone  on  the  farm." 

"Then  come  in  again  before  you  go;  I  want  to  send  some 
little  presents  to  Mattie's  brothers  and  sisters."  Then  I  led 
Mattie  to  my  back  office,  and  gave  her  into  the  hands  of  the 
woman  who  assisted  in  the  baths,  telling  her  to  give  her  a 
good  bath.  I  found  waiting  to  say  good-bye,  a  Homeopathic 
doctor,  who  said,  as  Mattie  passed  through  the  door :  "What 
on  earth  are  you  going  to  do  with  that  child?" 

"Oh,  she  is  mine,  now.  Her  mother  gave  her  to  me  on 
her  death-bed." 

"Well,  if  I  took  a  child,  I  would  find  a  better  looking  one 
than  that,"  she  exclaimed. 

"Oh,  well,"  I  rejoined,  "you  kno\v  'beauty  is  only  skin 
deep,'  and  'fine  feathers  make  fine  birds,'  so  come  and  go 
with  me  to  select  some  feathers  for  my  bird." 

On  returning  home,  I  found  Mattie  clean,  and  with  her 
hair  neatly  combed,  and  she  was  soon  dressed  throughout 
in  nice,  new  clothing,  with  a  blue  ribbon  tied  in  her  sun- 


88  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

burned  hair.  Her  father  soon  returned,  and  I  sent  back 
with  him  all  he  had  brought,  excepting  Mattie  herself,  to- 
gether with  a  supply  of  cakes,  nuts,  and  candy  for  Mattie's 
brother  and  sisters  at  home. 

Two  years  later,  this  same  Doctor  called  one  evening,  and 
said :  "What  did  you  ever  do  with  that  little  girl  you  took 
when  I  was  here  last. 

Mattie  was  sitting  at  the  desk,  busy  with  her  lessons,  for 
she  had  now  been  two  years  in  the  public  schools. 

"Come  here,  jMattie,"  I  said,  and  she  came  and  stood  at 
my  side. 

The  Doctor  looked  her  over.  "You  don't  tell  me  that  this 
is  the  'ornery'  little  thing  you  brought  in  here  two  years 
ago?"  Mattie's  face  crimsoned,  and  her  lip  quivered.  I  put 
my  arm  around  her  waist,  and  drew  her  to  me. 

"Indeed,"  I  said.  "This  is  my  own  good  Mattie  Bell. 
She  is  sweet  sixteen,  now,  and  she  is  above  my  ears,  and  she 
will  soon  be  above  my  head." 

Time  passed  on.  I  was  successful  and  prosperous,  but 
not  yet  satisfied. 

Again  I  was  beginning  to  pine  for  more  knowledge. 

My  sister  asked  for  a  course  in  Mills  College,  which  I 
gave  her.  My  son  had  his  profession.  "I  have  done  my 
duty  to  those  depending  on  me,"  I  thought,  "and  now  I  will 
treat  myself  to  a  full  medical  course  in  the  old  school,  and 
a  trip  to  Europe.  I  shall  then  be  equipped  for  business  on  an 
advanced  scale." 

I  set  about  putting  these  plans  into  practice  by  establishing 
my  son  in  the  drug  business  in  Goldendale,  Wash.  Then, 
after  closing  out  everything,  including  some  Roseburg  prop- 
erty. I  found  myself  in  the  possession  of  the  sum  of 
$8,000, — sufficient  for  all  my  needs. 

Again  my  family  and  friends  objected.  They  said :  "You 
will  soon  be  rich ;  why  spend  all  you  have  for  nothing  ?" 

Strange   to  say,  my  old  and  honored   friend,   Jesse  Ap- 


SoMic  oi'  lli:i;  I. Ill';  l'",x  ri:i<ii;.\rK.s.  89 

plct;ate,  iif)w  added  his  protest,  also,  and  came  from  liis  home 
to  Portland  to  ])lea(I  with  me.  He  said:  "You  have  a  pood 
foundation;  close  application  will  increase  your  knowledge 
and  ])ovver.  You  can  make  of  yourself  what  you  will.  You 
can  do  this,  and  at  the  same  time  increase,  instead  of  spend- 
ing your  wealth,  and  renieniher,  my  friend,  that  wealth  is 
power." 

lUit  I  was  deaf  to  all  entreaties; — a  hetter  education  I 
must  and  would  have,  and  the  hest  way  to  secure  it  was  to 
go  to  the  fountain-head.  This  was  my  argument  and  belief. 
I  had  not  forgotten  my  first  San  Francisco  millinery  trip, 
when  I  had  to  borrow  the  money  for  my  expenses.  The 
money  for  my  present  trip  was  not  borrowed,  and  it  had 
come  to  me  thnmgh  that  decision  and  venture. 

My  mind  was  made  up,  and,  like  the  gambler  who  has 
won  once,  I  would  risk  all  at  one  throw  again  ;  and  so,  on 
September  1st,  1878.  on  a  bright,  sunny  day,  I  left  Portland, 
again  cii  route  for  Philadelphia ;  not  this  time  with  a  storm 
without  and  within,  but  surrounded  with  sunshine,  and  fol- 
lowed by  the  good  wishes  of  many  friends. 

It  was  my  intention,  if  possible,  to  gain  admission  to  the 
then  renowned  Jefiferson  Medical  College. 

Armed  with  letters  from  U.  S.  Senators,  Governors.  Pro- 
fessors, and  Doctors,  on  reaching  Philadelphia.  I  at  once 
called  upon,  and  was  entertained  by  Dr.  Hannah  Longshore, 
one  of  the  first  graduates  of  the  Woman's  ^Medical  School  of 
Philadelphia,  and  sister  of  Professor  Longshore,  founder  of 
and  professor  in  the  Eclectic  Medical  School  of  Philadelphia 
for  men  and  women. 

I  told  her  plainly  just  what  I  desired. 

■'I  have  no  faith  that  you  can  get  into  Jefiferson  College,"* 
she  said,  "but  I  want  to  see  you  try  it.  I  believe  the  time 
will  come  when  the  doors  of  every  medical  school  in  our 
land  will  be  forced  to  open  for  women,  as  do  the  Eclectic 
and  Homeopathic  schools  now.     But  the  old  schools,  as  you 


90  Dk.  Owens  -  Adair. 

know,  do  not  recognize  them.  If  there  is  any  man  today 
who  can  open  the  doors  of  Jefferson  College  to  women,  it 
is  Professor  Gross." 

"This  is  Saturday,"  I  said,  "and  I  will  go  at  once  to 
see  him." 

He  received  me  with  a  gracious  smile,  requesting  me  to 
be  seated,  as  I  handed  him  the  envelope  containing  my 
credentials. 

While  he  was  looking  over  the  letters  with  a  pleased  ex- 
pression on  his  fine  face,  I  could  scarcely  realize  that  I  was 
in  the  presence  of  the  then  greatest  surgeon  in  the  United 
States. 

His  slender,  delicate  hands  were  not  suggestive  of  blood- 
letting. 

I  was  lost  in  contemplation  of  this  grand  man,  when  he 
broke  my  reverie  by  saying,  with  the  gentlest  voice  and 
manner : 

"And  now,  my  little  lady,  what  can  I  do  for  you  ?" 

"I  have  come  to  this  grand  old  city  in  search  of  knowl- 
edge," I  answered.  "I  hunger  and  thirst  after  it.  I  want  to 
drink  at  the  fountain-head.  Can  you  not  lead  me  into  Jeffer- 
son College, — you,  her  greatest  professor?" 

He  gazed  at  me  with  moist  and  sympathetic  eyes  for  an 
instant.     Then,  in  the  gentlest,  softest  tones,  he  said : 

"My  dear  little  woman,  how  gladly  I  would  open  the 
doors  of  Jefferson  to  you ;  but  that  privilege  is  denied  to  me. 
The  deciding  power  lies  in  the  hands  of  the  board  of  re- 
gents, and  they  are  a  whole  age  behind  the  times.  They 
would  simply  be  shocked,  scandalized,  and  enraged  at  the 
mere  mention  of  admitting  a  woman  into  Jefferson  College. 
Why  not  go  to  the  Woman's  College?  It  is  just  as  good. 
The  examinations  required  to  be  passed  are  identically  the 
same." 

"I  know  that.  Professor  Gross,"  I  responded;  "but  a 
Woman's  College  out  West  stands  below  par,  and  I  must 
have  a  degree  that  is  second  to  none." 


Some  of  IIeji  Life  Exi'iiuiiiNCKs.  91 

"Then  the  ITnivcrsity  of  Michi'g-an  is  the  school  for  you/' 
he  said.  "It  is  a  long-term  school,  and  a  mixed  schw^l,  and 
it  is  second  to  none  in  America." 

"Thanks,  Professor,  a  thousand  thanks !"  I  gratefully  ex- 
claimed;  "T  will  follow  your  advice,  and  go  there  at  once." 

"Why  not  remain  another  day,  and  breakfast  with  me?" 
he  asked;  "I  should  l)e  pleased  to  extend  the  courtesy,  and 
to  know  you  better." 

But,  on  consulting  the  University  Announcements,  we 
found  that  I  had  not  a  day  to  spare,  and  I  therefore  bade 
my  new-found  friend  farewell,  and  with  his  blessing,  started 
at  once  for  Ann  Arbor. 

Arriving  there,  I  was  soon  settled,  and  in  my  seat  for  the 
opening  lecture,  on  the  next  day  but  one.  During  the  en- 
suing nine  months,  I  averaged  sixteen  hours  a  day  in  attend- 
ing lectures,  in  hard  study,  and  in  all  the  exercises  required 
in  the  course,  after  which  I  put  in  ten  hours  a  day  (except- 
ing Sundays)  in  study  during  the  vacation.  Most  of  this 
time  was  given  to  Professor  Ford's  Question-Book.  It  was 
a  book  of  questions  without  answers,  on  anatomy.  Anatomy 
has  always  been  the  bug-bear  of  medical  students. 

I  procured  a  blank  book,  and  commencing  at  the  begin- 
ning, I  numbered  each  question,  then  looked  up  each  answer, 
and  wrote  it  out  in  full  in  my  blank  book.  This  book  cov- 
ered the  anatomy,  from  beginning  to  end,  and  it  was  com- 
pleted, with  il'ivT  exception  of  a  few  answers  which  I  could 
not  find. 

At  the  opening  of  tlie  next  term,  I  took  my  book  to  Pro- 
fessor Ford  for  the  correct  answers  to  these,  that  I  might 
fill  in  the  blanks.  Professor  Ford  took  the  book,  and  exam- 
ined it  carefully,  and  then  said : 

"You  have  done  that  which  no  other  student  in  this  Uni- 
versity has  ever  done  before,  and  more  than  I  have  expected 
one  to  do ;  and  you  have  done  it  while  the  otiiers  have  been 
enjoying  a  vacation.     I  shall  not  forget  this.     It  will  be  of 


92  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

the  highe'=;t  value  to  you  in  the  saving  of  time,  and  the  fixing 
of  these  all-important  facts  in  your  memory." 

It  was  my  custom  to  rise  at  four  a.  m.,  take  a  cold  bath, 
followed  by  vigorous  exercise ;  then  study  till  breakfast,  at 
seven.     (I  allowed  myself  half  an  hour  for  each  meal.) 

After  supper  came  "Quizzes,"  and  then  study  till  nine 
p.  m.,  when  I  retired,  to  sleep  soundly. 

Between  lectures,  clinics,  laboratory  work,  Quizzes,  exam- 
inations, two  good  sermons  on  Sunday,  and  a  church  social 
now  and  then,  the  time  was  fully  and  pleasantly  occupied. 
The  constant  change  brought  rest,  and  acted  as  a  safety- 
valve  to  our  over-heated  brains. 

At  the  close  of  the  second  year,  in  June,  1880,  I  received 
my  degree.  During  all  that  time,  I  had  not  suffered  from  a 
day's  sickness,  and  had  been  present  at  every  class  lecture 
save  one,  my  absence  from  it  being  due  to  my  having  been 
so  deeply  absorbed  in  my  studies  that  I  failed  to  hear  the 
bell.  This  lapse  almost  broke  my  heart,  which  had  been  set 
on  being  able  to  say,  at  the  end  of  the  course,  that  I  had  not 
missed  a  lingle  lecture. 

Commencement  was  an  important  event  at  this,  as  in  all 
Universities.  It  has  been  my  habit,  since  the  beginning  of 
my  correspondence,  over  forty-five  years  ago,  to  preserve  all 
letters  of  interest  or  importance,  and  also  to  keep  in  a  blank 
book  a  copy  of  my  answers  to  many  such.  Hence  I  have  a 
great  mass  of  material  from  which  to  select  in  compiling  this 
volume,  and  from  which  could  be  drawn  matter  to  fill  many 
larger  books  than  the  present.  The  following  is  an  extract 
from  a  letter  thus  preserved : 

Ann  Arbor. 

The  past  week  has  been  one  of  unusual  excitement  in 
this  great  University  of  learning,  comprising  3,000  students, 
but  now  all  that  has  passed,  and  such  a  quiet  and  stillness 
prevails  that  it  reminds  me  of  the  grave. 

The  commencement  exercises  were  splendid,  in  the  ex- 


SoMh:  OK  IIi:k  Lii'i-:  I'".xi'ERIENces.  93 

tremc.  Would  lliat  my  pen  li.i'I  power  to  ,'i(k'(|natcly  jjaiiit 
the  scene.  The  s])acions,  aiul  perfectly-kept  University 
grounds  were  resplendent  in  a  full  and  g'lorious  summer 
dress  of  green  ilhiminaled  gorgeously  with  the  crimson 
blue  and  gold  of  masses  of  flowers  of  every  hue,  whose  in- 
toxicating" fragrance  was  gathered,  co-mingled,  and  wafted 
by  the  soft  breezes  to  the  charmed  nostrils  rjf  the  enchanted, 
happy  and  hojjeful  throngs  of  manhood  and  womanhood  who 
were  so  rarely  privileged  as  to  be  ])resent.  Add  to  all  this, 
thousands  of  waving  banners  and  Hags,  the  fluttering  of 
countless  colored  badges,  the  sweet  and  thrilling  strains  of 
music  furnished  by  three  brass  bands,  and  the  gaily  attired 
students,  marching  and  counter-marching,  preparatory  to 
forming  into  line  for  the  final  grand  march  into  University 
Hall,  and  you  have  a  picture  beyond  words  to  fittingly  pre- 
sent, and  one  so  deeply  and  brightly  stamped  on  my  memory 
that  it  can  never  be  efifaced. 

Each  department  entered,  and  was  seated  according  to  the 
time  it  became  a  part  of  the  institution. 

The  immense  hall  was  packed  with  humanity,  and  every 
available  space  was  filled  with  flowers. 

First,  the  band  discoursed  rare  music. 

President  Angell  then  delivered  his  farewell  address ;  after 
which  came  the  presentation  of  the  diplomas. 

In  the  evening  followed  the  faculties'  grand  reception,  the 
most  brilliant  feature  of  all.  The  superb  old  hall  was  hung 
with  rare  and  costly  paintings,  entwined  with  the  Stars  and 
Stripes.  The  sweetest  strains  of  music  blended  with  the 
fragrance  of  hot-house  blossoms,  charmed  every  finer  sense, 
and  gave  a  seeming  foretaste  of  Heaven. 

Wealth  and  beauty,  in  all  their  splendor,  were  there.  Gor- 
geous trains  and  soft  laces  swept  the  polished  floor.  Tinted 
cheeks,  and  lips,  sparkling  eyes,  and  rounded  arms  and 
shoulders  of  rosy  ivory,  glowed  with  animation,  while,  with 
shaking  of  hands,  joyous  greetings,  and  enthusiastic  con- 
gratulations, all  "went  merry  as  a  marriage  bell." 


94  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

Alumni  meetings  followed,  and  the  festivities  were  closed 
by  the  President's  reception  to  the  graduates. 

After  graduating,  having  arranged  for  three  years'  ab- 
sence  from   home,   I   went   with   one  of  my  classmates   to 

Chicago.  Taking  rooms,  we  devoted  ourselves  to  hospital 
and  clinical  work. 

While  there,  my  son.  Dr.  Hill,  joined  me,  and  the  first  of 
October  found  us  back  at  the  University,  where  Dr.  Hill 
entered  for  a  post  course,  while  I  remained  as  a  resident 
physician,  which  entitled  me  to  all  lectures.  I  attended  all 
the  advanced  lectures  in  my  department,  theory  and  practice 
in  the  Homeopathic  School,  and  English  literature  and  his- 
tory in  the  Literary  Department. 

At  the  end  of  six  months,  with  my  son  and  two  lady 
physicians,  I  sailed  for  Europe.  We  visited  Glasgow,  Ham- 
burg, Berlin,  Potsdam,  Munich,  Dresden,  Paris,  London, 
and  other  cities. 

While  in  Munich,  we  were  one  day  being  conducted 
through  the  great  buildings  where  masterpieces  of  castings 
and  mouldings  were  on  exhibition,  when  the  guide  opened 
a  door  and  ushered  us  into  a  large,  circular  room  known  as 
"The  American  Department." 

The  central  figure  was  a  heroic  statue  of  Washington,  on 
his  great  white  charger,  carrying  the  flag  of  his  country. 
Around  him  were  grouped  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,  and  there,  also,  was  the  statuary  representing 
our  martyred  Lincoln,  striking  off  the  fetters  from  the  limbs 
of  the  black  man.  That  sight,  so  beautiful,  so  real,  so  mov- 
ing, was  enough  to  stir  the  blood  of  the  coldest  American ! 
For  weeks,— it  seemed  months, — we  had  not  seen  "Old 
Glory,"  and  now  here  it  burst  on  our  view,  floating  over 
the  images  of  all  we  held  nearest  and  dearest  on  earth !  It 
was  too  much  for  my  impulsive  nature.  Forgetting  time 
and  place,  and  oblivious  to  all  around  me,  I  rushed  forward, 
fell  on  my  knees  at  the  feet  of  the  Father  of  his  Country, 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  95 

and  gave  vent  to  my  pent-up  feelings  of  joy,  in  exclama- 
tions of  "Oh,  my  country,  my  country !    My  flag,  my  flag !" 

I  was  brought  suddenly  to  my  senses  by  the  warning 
voice  of  Dr.  Hill : 

"Mother,  mother !  These  people  cannot  understand  a 
word  of  English !  They  will  think  you  are  crazy,  and  there 
is  no  telling  what  trouble  you  will  get  us  into !" 

I  sprang  to  my  feet,  and  looked  behind  me,  expecting  to 
see  the  gens  d'anncs  coming  to  take  charge  of  me,  but,  in- 
stead, I  saw  a  picture  that  I  never  can  forget.  The  door  was 
filled  with  broadly  smiling  faces,  showing  more  plainly  than 
words  could  do  that  they  thoroughly  understood  the  sit- 
uation, and  heartily  sympathized  with  the  loyal  "Ameri- 
caine." 

As  our  party  passed  out,  they  further  showed  their  appre- 
ciation and  approval  by  profuse  smiles  and  bows ;  thus  show- 
ing that  the  love  of  one's  native  land  is  "the  touch  of  Nature 
that  makes  the  whole  world  kin." 

Arrived  outside,  Dr.  Hill  said :  "Well,  I  never  did  see 
anything  like  it !  Mother  is  always  getting  into  scrapes ;  but 
somehow  she  always  comes  out  on  top." 

Dr.  Hill  now  became  homesick,  and  declared  he  would 
rather  see  his  Western  sweetheart  than  all  the  cities  in  the 
world,  so  I  gave  him  his  return  ticket,  and  $500  in  money, 
and  he  lost  no  time  in  going  back  to  Goldendale  and  getting 
married. 

The  tw^o  Doctors  and  I  continued  our  journey  through 
Austria,  Prussia,  France,  Scotland,  and  England.  In  all  the 
large  cities,  we  visited  the  hospitals,  and  saw  many  of  the 
world's  greatest  surgeons  operate.  My  letters  with  state 
seals  always  secured  us  open  doors,  and  invitations  to  enter. 
On  reaching  London,  I  found  a  letter  from  my  dear  friend, 
now  Mrs.  Lillie  Glenn  O'Neil,  urging  me  to  come  to  her  in 
July.  This  request  from  my  dear  Lillie  (who  always  called 
me  mother),  the  only  and  petted  child  of  my  old  and  honored 


96  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

friend.  Dr.  J.  G.  Glenn,  now  deceased,  I  could  not  refuse, 
and  so,  bidding  my  two  classmates  adieu,  I  started  for  Port- 
land, Oregon. 

W^hen  I  landed  at  New  York,  the  Customs  Collector  de- 
manded $75  duty  on  my  instruments,  which  I  had  purchased 
in  Paris.  I  said:  "These  instruments  are  for  my  own  use. 
I  am  a  physician.  Here  is  a  letter  from  the  President  of 
the  University  of  IMichigan,  and  letters  from  U.  S.  Senators, 
Governors,  etc.  I  know  you  have  no  right  to  collect  duty  on 
mv  instruments,  and  if  you  take  my  goods,  I  will  employ 
an  attorney." 

"You  stay  right  here,"  he  said,  "till  T  come  back,  and 
you'll  find  you  will  have  to  pay  the  duty."  After  two  hours, 
he  returned,  and  said :     "Take  your  things,  and  go  on." 

I  speedily  obeyed,  glad  to  get  out  of  his  clutches.  In  a  few 
hours  my  ticket  to  San  Francisco  was  secured  and  I  was  en 
route  thither. 

In  those  days  the  steamer's  passenger  list  was  telegraphed 
ahead  from  San  Francisco.  On  reaching  the  Portland 
wharf,  I  found  a  messenger  with  a  carriage  waiting  to  take 
me  to  the  bedside  of  a  patient.  This  was  surely  an  auspicious 
beginning,  and  I  felt  more  than  elated,  for  I  was  delighted 
to  get  home,  and  anxious  to  be  at  work.  My  purse  was 
greatly  depleted,  only  $200  remaining  of  the  $8,000  with 
which  I  had  left  home,  three  years  before. 

Within  tw^enty-four  hours  I  had  secured  nice  rooms  over 
the  drug-store  of  my  old  and  good  Jriend,  Dr.  O.  P.  S. 
Plummer,  and  I  lost  no  time  in  getting  them  fitted  up,  and 
ready  for  patients,  who  came,  and  continued  to  come,  in  in- 
creasing numbers. 

A  week  or  two  after  I  was  settled.  Col.  McC.  called,  and 
said : 

'T  am  glad  to  welcome  you  back,  and  I  thought  I  would 
take  a  few  of  your  electrical  medical  baths.  I  have  not 
really  had  an  attack  of  rheumatism  since  that  terrible  time 


SOMK  OF  I-IK]{   LiFK   I'lxi'KKIICNTlCS.  07 

I  had  before,  but  I  Ihou^^hl  T  had  better  take  a  few  as  a 
preventive." 

I  laiii;h('(l,  saying:  "I  ha\i'  no  ballis,  and  never  expect 
to  have  again." 

"Really;  you  have  not  lost  faiih  in  ihcni,  have  you?" 

"Oh,  no,  I  fully  realize  their  v^^orth ;  but  you  see,  Colonel, 
I  am  now  a  full-llcdgcd  I'nivcrsity  physician  of  the  old 
school,  and  I  cannot  afford  to  attach  to  myself  the  odium  of 
the  epithet,  'Bath  Doctor.'  One  dollar  and  a  half  was  con- 
sidered a  large  price  for  those  baths,  by  some  of  my  cus- 
tomers, but  no  one  expects  to  get  a  prescription  for  less  than 
$2.00.  Oh,  no,  T  expect  to  carry  my  stock  in  trade  in  my 
head  from  this  time  on." 

My  friends,  and  my  enemies,  as  well, — if  they  of  the 
old  slights  and  disapproval  could  be  so  called, — came  to  pay 
their  respects,  and  many  to  receive  my  professional  services ; 
and  from  no  place  did  I  receive  so  much  consideration  and 
patronage  as  from  Roseburg,  my  former  home. 

I  often  jokingly  remarked:  "I  wonder,  as  I  look  back  now, 
that  I  was  not  tarred  and  feathered  after  that  autopsy  affair: 
I  can  assure  }'0u  it  was  no  laughing  matter  then  to  break 
through  the  customs,  prejudices  and  established  rules  of  a 
new  country,  which  is  always  a  risky  undertaking,  espe- 
cially if  it  is  done  by  a  woman,  whose  position  is  so  sharply 
defined.  Only  a  few  years  before  that  date,  the  students  of 
Jefferson  Medical  College  publicly  "rotten-egged"  the  wom- 
an students,  as  they  were  leaving  Blockly  Hospital. 

Soon  after  I  was  established,  a  doctor  called  whom  I  had 
known  for  many  years,  saying : 

"I  cannot  succeed  in  Portland,  and  am  going  to  make  a 
change,  and  sell  my  belongings  at  auction.  Come  and  look 
over  what  I  have,  and  take  what  you  want.  I  have  many 
things  you  need  that  I  do  not  wish  to  take, — and  come  to 
the  sale." 

"Why,  Doctor,"  I  said,  "I  have  just  come  home,  and  have 
spent  all  my  money." 


98  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

"No  matter.  You  can  have  anything-  or  all  I  have  for 
sale,  without  a  dollar.     You  will  have  money  soon  enough." 

"But  I  do  not  know  that." 

"I  do.  I  only  wish  I  was  sure  of  making  half  as  much. 
Before  six  months  you  will  be  taking  in  $600  a  month." 

I  was  astounded,  for  I  knew  he  was  in  earnest ;  and  yet 
his  prophecy  did  come  true.  I  had  for  so  many  years  been 
clinging  to  the  slippery  ladder,  struggling  and  fighting  for 
my  very  existence,  making  headway  surely,  but  so  slowly, 
that  I  could  not  realize  how  much  was  now  within  my 
reach.  But  I  knew  it  soon.  Hundreds  of  incidents  might 
be  recorded  to  indicate  my  success  during  the  next  three 
years,  and  the  unbounded  satisfaction  and  happiness  it 
brought  me.  One  morning  a  woman,  pale  and  trembling, 
came  into  my  office,  and  said : 

"I  have  been  sick  for  many  years,  and  the  doctors  say  I 
cannot  be  cured.  I  have  heard  so  much  about  you,  that  I 
have  come  to  see  if  you  cannot  give  me  relief.  We  have  paid 
out  nearly  all  we  have  to  doctors,  and  I  know  that  if  you 
cannot  help  me,  you  will  say  so." 

Whom  should  this  invalid  be  but  my  old  Roseburg  rival 
in  the  millinery  business?  I  gave  her  a  warm  and  cordial 
reception,  saying :  "I  earnestly  hope  I  may  be  able  to  help 
you." 

After  making  a  thorough  examination  of  her  case,  which 
was  one  of  ulceration  of  the  bladder,  I  said :  "I  can  help 
you,  I  will  treat  you  for  a  few  weeks,  and  will  then  teach 
you  how  to  treat  yourself,  and  if  you  will  follow  my  advice 
and  directions,  I  have  faith  that  your  health  will  be  restored." 

With  tears  of  hope  and  gratitude,  she  said :  "No  one  can 
or  will  be  more  faithful  and  obedient  than  I  will  be.  When 
shall  I  come  again?" 

"You  are  not  able  to  come  to  the  office  now." 

"But  it  is  so  far  out  to  my  son's  where  I  am  staying,  and 
we  are  so  poor." 


SoiMi''.  oi'  Hick  I. up:  l'".xn;KiKNCKS.  09 

"That  makes  no  (liffcrcncc;  and  don't  you  worry  about 
my  bill.  I  will  take  you  home  in  my  carriage,  and  will  go 
to  yom-  son's  every  day  and  treat  ycni  until  you  are  able  to 
return  home." 

"Oh,  you  are  heapinj.;-  coals  of  fire  on  my  head  by  all  this 
kindness!"  she  exclaimed.  "]>ut  I  do  want  to  tell  you  now 
that  I  always  did  have  the  .greatest  respect  for  you." 

"Now,  T  do  not  look  at  it  in  that  way,"  said  I.  "If  you 
had  not  gone  out  to  Roseburg,  and  goaded  me  on,  by  show- 
ing me  how  little  I  really  knew  a1)out  millinery,  I  might  have 
been  out  there  yet,  making  poor  hats  and  bonnets.  But  you 
proved  the  truth  of  what  a  friend  once  said  to  me:  'If  1 
wished  to  increase  your  height  two  and  a  half  inches,  I 
would  attempt  to  press  you  down,  and  you  would  grow  up- 
ward from  sheer  resentment.'  So  now,  you  see,  my  dear 
friend,  that  you  have  all  along  been  my  good  angel  in  dis- 
guise. I  owe  you  a  great  debt  of  gratitude,  and  I  intend  to 
repay  it,  with  interest." 

And  I  did,  for  her  health  was  restored,  and,  from  that 
hour,  arose  a  friendship  between  us  which  lasted  till  her 
death.     Only  three  years  ago  we  exchanged  photographs. 

During  1878,  before  leaving  for  the  East,  I  provided  a 
home  in  Forest  Grove  for  Mattie,  Avhere  she  could  continue 
her  studies.  On  my  return  she  hastened  to  Portland  to  see 
her  foster  mother.     She  was  now^  twenty,  and  full-grown. 

"Well,  Mattie,"  I  said,  "I  thought  you  might  be  married 
by  this  time.  Haven't  you  found  a  sweetheart?"  I  playfully 
asked  her. 

"No,  I  haven't ;  and  I  don't  want  one.  I  want  to  come 
and  live  with  you." 

"And  what  do  you  want  to  do?  ^^'ould  you  like  to  be  a 
doctor  ?" 

"I  will  do  anvthing  vou  want  me  to  do,  and  think  I  can 
do." 

"Then  go  back  and  get  vour  things.     I  will  be  settled  and 


100  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

ready  for  }-ou  in  a  few  da}s ;  and  then  I  will  make  a  doctor 
of  you." 

She  was  soon  with  me,  my  dear,  good  Alattie  Belle.  Had 
I  had  a  hundred  children,  I  ani  sure  none  could  have  been 
more  faithful,  or  loved  me  better.  She  was  always  a  sun- 
beam, not  only  in  my  heart,  but  in  my  home,  as  well.  She 
graduated  in  medicine,  but  never  left  me  till  death  claimed 
her,  in  1893. 

Thus  passed  three  of  the  happiest  and  most  prosperous 
years  of  my  life.  Health,  hosts  of  friends,  and  unbroken 
prosperity;  what  more  could  I  ask,  or  desire? 

When  asked,  as  I  often  was,  why  I  did  not  marry,  I  al- 
ways responded :  "I  am  m.arried.  I  am  married  to  my  pro- 
fession,"— and  I  was  honest  in  that  belief. 

But  the  time  came  which  is  said  to  come  to  all,  when  I 
was  ready  and  willing  to  add.  another  name  to  mine,  and  it 
came  about  in  this  way :  Oregon  was  about  to  vote  on  the 
Woman  Suffrage  Amendment.  On  an  April  morning,  I 
saw  C.  W.  Fulton's  name  in  the  list  of  arrivals  from  As- 
toria, and,  knowing  that  he  was  a  friend  of  the  cause,  I  drove 
directly  to  his  hotel.  Stepping  to  the  counter,  I  inquired 
of  the  clerk : 

"Has  Mr.  C.  W.  Fulton  breakfasted  yet  ?" 

I  heard  chairs  moving  behind  me,  and  Mr.  Fulton's  voice 
saying : 

"Yes,  Doctor,  I  am  here.  And  don't  you  know  these  three 
gentlemen?"  He,  with  Col.  John  Adair,  and  his  two  broth- 
ers, were  all  having  breakfast  at  the  same  table,  and  they 
urged  me  to  join  them.  We  made  a  jolly  party,  all  talking 
Woman  Suffrage,  as  we  partook  of  the  morning  meal. 

I  had  not  seen  any  of  the  Adairs  for  years.  General 
Adair  and  my  father  had  been  warm  friends,  as  Kentuckians 
can  be ;  and  when  I  was  thirteen,  John  was  a  large,  hand- 
some boy  of  his  age,  with  the  most  beautiful  curly  auburn 
hair  imaginable.     I  admired,  and  was  quite  fascinated  with 


SoMi':  OF  lli:ii  Lii'K  Experiences.  101 

him,  then.  lie  came  to  my  home  occasionally  with  his 
father.  I  had  attended  school  with  liis  hrothers,  S.  D.  and 
Wilhani  Adair,  in  the  sixties. 

For  (icneral  y\dair,  their  father,  I  always  had  the  most 
profound  admiration,  and  when,  years  later,  I  looked  upon 
his  nohle  face  for  the  last  time,  as  it  lay  in  the  casket,  I 
thought*!  had  never  seen  so  beautiful  a  countenance.  To  mc 
it  was  a  true  mdex  of  his  honorable  and  u])right  life,  and 
it  was  then,  and  must  ever  be,  a  comfort  to  me  to  know  that 
he  was  always  my  friend. 

"Friend   after    friend    departs ; 

Who  has  not  lost  a  friend? 
There  is  no  union  here  of  hearts 

That  finds  not  here  an  end." 


102  Db.  Owens  -  Adair. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Colonel  Adair  and  I  were  married  July  24,  1884,  in  the 
First  Congregational  Church  of  Portland,  Oregon.' 

The  church  was  filled  by  the  invited  guests,  a  number  of 
whom  were  from  Roseburg,  200  miles  distant. 

When  Ave  left  the  church,  the  street  was  lined  on  both 
sides  with  friends  and  uninvited  people,  and  when  the  car- 
riage rolled  awa}',  many  called  out :  'Goodbye,  Doctor, 
goodbye!" 

We  drove  to  the  home  of  my  sister,  Airs.  Hyman  Abra- 
ham, who  had  prepared  a  reception  for  us,  after  which  we 
boarded  the  boat  for  Astoria,  and  from  there  to  San  Fran- 
cisco. 

After  a  month's  absence,  we  returned  to  Portland,  and  T 
took  up  my  work  where  I  had  left  it. 

More  than  twenty-one  years  have  passed  since  I  plighted 
my  marriage  vows.  Many  sorrows  have  been  interspersed 
with  the  pleasures  of  my  married  life,  and  during  all  these 
years,  I  have  been  as  active  and  determined  as  in  former 
days.  I  have  never  flinched  from  any  undertaking,  and  I 
hope  I  never  shall,  to  the  day  of  my  death ;  but  during  these 
later  years,  I  have  often  looked  back  over  my  past  life,  not 
with  a  shudder,  but  to  gain  strength  and  courage  to  meet  the 
financial  difficulties  that  had  accumulated,  and  threatened  to 
engulf  me. 

My  yearly  income  at  the  time  of  my  marriage  was  fully 
$7,000. 

Colonel  Adair  is  an  optomist  of  a  happy  and  cheerful  dis- 
position, and,  as  I  have  frequently  said,  he  is  usually  among 
the  clouds,  and  rarely  gets  down  to  terra  Urma. 

There  were  no  dark  shadows  in  his  pictures,  and  my  love 


Some  of  Her  Live  Exi-erienxils.  IO.'J 

for  him  knew  no  bounds.  Soon  after  our  marriaj^^c  lie  in- 
duced me  to  invest  in  a  larj^e  i)ro])erty,  neai;  Astoria,  in 
which  he  saw  millions  in  the  near  future. 

A  large  portion  of  this  was  unreclaimed  tide  land.  Rec- 
lamation at  that  time  was  very  ex]:)ensive,  and  little  under- 
stood. I  was  earnestly  advised  not  to  invest  in  the  propo- 
sition. 

At  the  ag"e  of  forty-seven  I  gave  birth  to  a  little  daughter; 
and  now  my  joy  knew  no  limit, — my  cup  of  bliss  was  full 
to  overflowing.  A  son  I  had,  and  a  daughter  was  what  I 
most  desired.  For  her  my  plans  were  all  made.  She  should 
be  my  constant  companion.  With  her  nurse,  I  would  take 
her  on  all  my  rounds.  She  should  imbibe  the  love  of  the 
profession  not  only  from  her  mother's  milk,  but  by  constant 
association,  as  well.  She  should  have  all  I  possessed,  and  a!! 
that  could  be  added. 

But  ah,  how  little  we  mortals  know  what  is  in  store  for 
us !  And  how  well  it  is  that  we  do  not  know.  God's  ways 
are  not  our  ways,  and  they  are  past  our  understanding.  For 
three  days  only,  was  she  left  with  us,  and  then  my  treasure 
was  taken  from  me,  to  join  the  immortal  hosts  beyond  all 
earthly  pain  and  sorrow. 

"There  is  no  flock,  however  watched  and  tended. 

But  one  dead  lamb  is  there. 
There  is  no  fireside,  howsoe'er  defended. 

But  has  one  vacant  chair. 

She  is  not  dead,  the  child  of  our  affection, — 

But  gone  unto  that  school 
Where  she  no  longer  needs  our  poor  protection. 

And  Christ,  Himself,  doth  rule." 

J\Iy  grief  was  so  excessive  I  felt  it  was  more  than  I  could 
bear,  unsupported  by  the  companionship  of  my  husband, 
who,  with  the  aid  of  twentv-five  Chinamen,  were  trving  to 


104  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

reclaim  the  tide-land,  a  task  which  did  seem,  as  his  brother 
once  said,  "Like  fighting-  the  Pacific  Ocean." 

So  I  said  to  him :  "I  will  go  to  Astoria,  where  I  can  be 
near  you.  I  can  have  a  practice  anywhere,  and  I  cannot 
endure  our  separation,  now  that  our  baby  is  gone."  I  rented 
a  pretty  home  there,  for  two  years,  and  money  came  as 
usual,  tmtil  the  two  years  were  nearly  past,  when  I  was 
stricken  with  typhus  fever,  due  to  defective  drainage.  Be- 
lieving that  my  time  had  come,  I  said :  "Bring  me  an 
attorney,  that  I  may  make  my  will  while  my  mind  is  yet 
clear." 

My  will  was  made,  but  my  time  had  not  yet  come,  and  I 
recovered  slowly.  My  husband  now  urged  me  to  go  to  the 
farm,  saying : 

"Your  health  absolutely  demands  the  change.  In  that 
pure,  fresh  air  you  can  soon  regain  your  health  and  strength. 
In  less  than  two  years  railroad  trains  will  be  running  across 
our  land,  and  our  fortunes  will  be  assured,  and  you  will 
never  need  to  work  again." 

In  my  weakened  condition,  I  consented,  and  July  1st, 
1888,  found  us  on  the  farm,  where  we  remained  eleven  years. 

Now,  as  I  look  back,  I  realize  that  that  move  was  one  of 
the  greatest  mistakes  of  my  life.  I  soon,  however,  recovered 
my  health,  and  accustomed  vigor  and  energy,  and  was  _ ready 
for  business.  During  all  those  eleven  years,  I  carried  on 
mv  professional  work  as  best  I  could,  in  that  out-of-the-way 
place ;  and  at  no  time  did  I  ever  refuse  a  call,  day  or  night, 
rain  or  shine.  I  was  often  compelled  to  go  on  foot,  through 
trails  so  overhung  with  dense  undergrowth,  and  obstructed 
with  logs  and  roots,  that  a  horse  and  rider  could  not  get 
past;  and  through  muddy  and  flooded  tide-lands  in  gum 
boots. 

A  few  cases  will  better  illustrate  the  nature  of  much  of 
my  practice,  and  the  hardships  which  were  entailed  upon 
the  physician  in  that  locality. 


SOMK  (JF  UkII  LiKK   P^XI'KRIICNCKS.  105 

One  day  a  Mr.  William  Larson  came,  saying:  "My  wife 
is  sick.  Come  at  once."  There  was  a  most  terrific  south- 
west storm  raging,  and  we  had  a  mile  to  go  on  foot  over 
the  tide-land  before  reachin.^"  the  Lewis  and  Clark  Kiver 
The  land  was  Hooded,  the  mud  and  slush  deep,  and  the 
swollen  sloughs  had  to  be  crossed  on  logs  and  planks.  Nearly 
the  whole  distance  was  overgrown  with  enormous  bunches 
of  wire-grass,  many  being  three  feet  across.  This  long, 
intertwined  grass  was  a  great  obstruction  to  walking,  and  I 
fell  prone,  again  and  again,  before  reaching  the  river.  M\ 
boots  were  filled  with  water,  and  I  was  drenched  to  the 
skin.  The  wind  was  howling,  and  dead  ahead.  Mr.  Larsen 
was  a  powerful  man,  and  a  master-hand  with  the  oars.  He 
sprang  into  the  boat,  throwing  off  his  hat  and  two  coats,  and 
began  to  remove  his  outer  shirt,  saying :  "You  must  excuse 
me.  Doctor,  but  if  I  ever  get  you  there,  I  shall  have  to  strip 
near  to  the  skin." 

I  thoroughly  understood  the  situation,  and  well  knew  that 
the  odds  were  against  us ;  and  I  fully  expected  that,  not- 
withstanding his  uncommon  strength  and  skill,  we  would  be 
compelled  to  land  far  below  our  starting  point  on  the  oppo- 
site side,  and  be  forced  to  make  our  way  over  tide-lands 
many  times  worse  than  that  we  had  already  crossed.  How- 
ever, before  we  had  gone  many  rods  from  shore,  the  shrill 
whistle  of  his  little  steam  milk-launch  was  borne  to  us  in 
that  on-rushing  storm,  and  she  now  came  shooting  out  of 
the  big  slough  leading  to  his  house,  with  the  terrible  storm 
at  her  stern  forcing  her  onward. 

In  his  anxiety  and  distress,  i\Ir.  Larsen's  first  thought 
was  that  his  wife  was  dead,  and  in  the  anguish  of  his  heart, 
with  tears  streaming  over  his  face,  he  cried  out : 

"My  God!     My  God!     My  wife  is  dead!'" 

"No,  no!  Your  wife  is  not  dead,"  I  said.  "Captain 
Johnson  has  returned  from  Astoria,  and  knowing  you  could 
not  get  me  there,  has  come  for  us."  Which  proved  to  be 
the  fact. 


106  Dr.  Owens -Adair. 

As  soon  as  the  launch  was  in  haihng"  distance,  he  called 
out: 

"How  is  my  wife?" 

"A-1-1  r-i-g'-h-t,"  instantly  came  the  cheering  reply.  The 
sudden  reaction  of  relief  came  near  being  too  much  for  that 
strong  man,  Avho  had  a  heart  to  match  his  powerful  frame. 

I  had  most  of  the  practice  in  that  section,  and  made  many 
trips  to  that  neighborhood. 

One  warm  day,  Mr.  Irving  Jeffers  came  rushing  up  to  the 
house,  hat  in  hand,  his  forehead  and  face  bathed  in  perspira- 
tion.    He  said:     "My  wife  is  sick;  can  you  come  at  once?" 

He  had  been  running  nearly  all  the  way  over  that  same 
road.  The  ground  was  now  dry,  but  the  tangled  wire-grass 
was  about  as  difficult  to  get  through  as  it  was  in  winter.  His 
anxiety  was  so  great,  I  found  it  hard  to  keep  up  with  him, 
and  I  fell  several  times  before  reaching  the  river.  When 
nearly  there,  he  ran  ahead,  and  had  the  boat  ready  for  me 
to  jump  in  without  a  moment's  delay.  It  did  not  take  him 
long  to  cross  that  beautiful  river,  which  was  then  as  smooth 
as  glass ;  then  up  the  Jefifers  slough,  and  to  the  landing,  at 
the  boat-house.  The  lovely  boat-trip  had  rested  me,  and  I 
was  ready  for  the  short  run  to  the  house.  As  soon  as  we 
came  in  sight  of  it,  however,  we  saw  his  mother,  Mrs, 
Elijah  Jeffers,  on  the  front  porch,  who  waved  her  hand  and 
called  to  us  not  to  run.  He  forged  ahead,  however,  and  was 
soon  at  the  bedside  of  his  beautiful  wife. 

His  mother  came  to  meet  me,  saying :  "I  expect  Irving 
has  run  you  nearly  to  death.  I  told  him  not  to  hurry  you, 
but  he  is  half  beside  himself." 

The  worst  storm,  without  exception,  that  I  ever  exper- 
ienced on  Clatsop  occurred  one  dark  winter  night.  It  had 
been  raining  and  blowing  fiercely  all  day,  but  that  night  was 
truly  fearful !  The  wind  howled,  and  shrieked  in  fury ;  the 
house  trembled,  shook  and  swayed ;  the  rain  fell  in  a  deluge. 
We  could  not  sleep. 


SoMK  OF  llicji  LiKK  Experiences.  107 

"This  is  such  a  niL;lit  as  I  might  expect  a  call  from  Sea- 
side" (fifteen  miles  distant),  I  said;  "and  I  feel  as  if  T 
should  be  called  any  minute." 

"Well,  you'll  not  go.  I'm  sure  of  that,"  said  my  husband. 
I  made  no  reply. 

Sure  enough,  at  four  a.  m.  a  lantern-light  flashed  across 
my  window.  (It  was  my  custom  to  raise  my  window-shade 
on  retiring.)  I  was  out  of  bed  in  an  instant,  hurrying  on 
my  clothes.  The  door-bell  rang,  and  the  man  said :  "The 
Doctor  is  wanted  at  Seaside.  I  left  there  at  ten  last  night. 
The  storm  has  been  at  my  back  all  the  way,  but  I  could  not 
get  here  any  sooner.  There  are  trees  down  all  through  the 
woods.  I  had  to  leave  my  horse  half  a  mile  back,  and  come 
on  on  foot.    We  shall  have  to  cut  our  way  out." 

Colonel  Adair  said :  "It  is  simply  impossible  for  my  wife 
to  attempt  this  trip.  It  is  really  dangerous  for  anyone  to  be 
out  in  the  woods  in  such  a  storm,  with  the  trees  falling  all 
around." 

"I  promised  to  go,  and  I  must  go,"  I  said.  "There  is  no 
other  doctor  nearer  than  Astoria,  and  after  this  storm  they 
might  not  be  able  to  get  one  from  there  sooner  than  twenty- 
four  to  forty-eight  hours ;  so  saddle  the  horse ;  I  will  be 
down  to  the  barn  by  the  time  you  are  ready." 

I  succeeded  in  reaching  the  barn  without  being  blown  off 
my  feet,  by  taking  the  driveway  under  the  hill.  After  I 
was  in  the  saddle,  a  blanket  with  a  hole  in  its  center  was 
drawn  over  my  head,  and  its  corners,  sides  and  ends  made 
fast  to  the  saddle  and  cinch.  Thus,  in  true  Indian  fashion, 
my  wraps  were  held  in  place,  and  I  could  not  be  blown  o?t. 
The  messenger  and  my  husband  armed  themselves  with  axes 
and  lanterns,  and  we  started  for  the  woods.  We  found  five 
trees  in  the  road,  and  after  two  hours'  hard  work,  we  got 
around  and  past  them.  After  we  got  out  of  the  woods,  the 
horses  found  great  difficulty  in  facing  the  storm,  and  my 
good,    sensible    old    horse  wanted  to  go  home.     I  was  so 


108  Drx.  Owens  -  Adair. 

bundled  and  tied  up.  I  had  little  control  of  him,  and  the 
messenger  had  to  coiue  back  and  lead  him  for  some  miles. 
After  daylight  the  storm  began  to  abate,  and  by  ten  a.  m. 
it  was  over,  and  the  sun  was  shining.  We  found  man} 
more  trees  across  the  road,  but  we  finally  reached  our  des- 
tination, at  eleven  a.  m.,  and  found  the  folks  anxiously 
hoping  for  our  arrival,  and  fearing  they  would  have  to  dis- 
patch a  messenger  to  Astoria,  which  would  have  been  a 
serious  undertaking,  as  the  railroad  track  was,  in  places, 
completely  blocked  with  fallen  timber. 

I  quickly  relieved  their  anxiety,  and  was  ready  to  return 
as  soon  as  my  horse  was  fed,  and  I  had  had  my  dinner,  not 
having  had  any  breakfast. 

In  addition  to  my  professional  duties,  I  worked  early  and 
late,  in  the  house,  and  on  the  farm.  There  was  little  on  the 
farm  that  I  could  not  do. 

In  the  winter  of  1893-3,  during  which  time  my  husband 
made  two  trips  to  New  York  in  the  interest  of  the  Astoria 
Railroad,  I  had  full  charge  of  the  farm ;  and  often  spent 
from  three  to  seven  hours  in  the  day  in  the  saddle  looking 
after  the  stock.  But  in  time  that  terrible  mental  and  physical 
strain  began  to  tell  upon  me.  Rheumatism,  which  is  heredi- 
tary in  my  family,  had  taken  hold  of  me,  and  was  fast  under- 
mining my  health. 

In  the  winter  of  1898  my  husband  became  alarmed,  and 
begged  me  to  go  to  North  Yakima,  Wash.,  and  spend  the 
holidays  with  my  son  and  his  family,  in  the  hope  of  benefit- 
ting my  health.  I  went ;  and  that  high  altitude,  and  dry 
climate  acted  like  magic.  In  but  a  few  days,  I  was  relieved 
of  rheumatism,  and  felt  twenty  years  younger. 

I  now  confided  my  troubles  to  my  son,  who  said : 

"You  will  die,  or  be  a  cripple  for  life,  if  you  do  not  get 
out  of  that  wet  climate.  Let  the  old  farm  go,  and  come  up 
here.  I  am  sure  you  can  make  $150  a  month,  and  that  is 
better  than  going  behind  that  much.     You  ought  never  to 


Somp:  ok  TTi;k  T.mp:  F.xi-kkiences.  109 

have  <:;()ne  tluif."     All  of  which  I  well  knew  was  the  truth. 

I  said:  "I  will  conic,"  and  he  smiled,  for  he  knew  that 
meant  decision. 

"Well,  niolher,  I  will  look  out  for  a  house  and  (jffice  for 
you.  Spring  opens  here  In'  tlu'  fu-st  of  .\]iril,  and  \(>y\  r)ught 
to  be  here  by  that  time." 

"I  will  he  here,"  I  replied.  "But  I  Avant  you  to  secure  me 
living-rooms  in  connection  with  my  office.  Help  cannot  be 
depended  upon,  and  the  expense  of  a  separate  house  would 
be  much  greater,  and  more  than  I  can  afford.  I  shall  do 
my  own  work,  which  will  be  play  beside  that  which  I  shall 
be  leaving." 

My  mind  being  made  up,  and  my  plans  formed,  I  felt 
more  buoyant,  happy  and  hopeful  than  I  had  for  years,  for 
I  felt  confident  that  I  could  now  save  at  least  a  portion  of 
our  properties.  I  wrote  to  Colonel  Adair  saying :  "I  shall 
be  home  soon,  and  I  want  you  to  be  prepared  for  a  revela- 
tion." 

Upon  reaching  home,  I  told  him  :  "I  have  decided  to 
move  to  North  Yakima.  We  will  rent  the  farm,  sell  off  all 
the  stock,  and  pay  off  as  much  of  the  debt  as  possible.  Wa 
have  three  months  in  which  to  accomplish  this."  He  re- 
garded me  with  perfect  amazement ! 

"Well,  my  dear,  I  earnestly  advise  you  to  think  seriously 
of  this  before  taking  such  a  step.  It  is  a  terrible  thing  to 
give  up  our  home  at  our  age." 

"I  cannot  feel  that  in  reality  we  own  anything  that  is  cov- 
ered with  mortgages,"  I  answered.  "A  $34,000  debt  at  eight 
and  ten  per  cent  interest  will,  at  no  distant  time,  leave  us 
without  a  house  or  home.  I  shall  soon  become  a  cripple  if  T 
continue  to  live  in  this  wet  climate.  Death,  to  me.  would 
be  preferable.  T  shall  make  money,  and  you  ought,  with 
your  education,  to  be  able  to  get  into  some  kind  of  paying 
business." 

My  wishes  were  carried  out  to  the  letter,  and  April  6th 


110  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

found  us  in  North  Yakima,  Wash.,  where,  in  one  week,  we 
w^ere  comfortably  settled  in  four  lovely  rooms. 

Three  days  later  I  performed  a  surgical  operation  for 
which  I  received  $100.  I  found  many  persons  who  had 
seen  and  heard  of  me  as  a  physician,  and  so  business  came, 
as  in  former  days. 

On  the  last  day  of  June  we  started  overland  to  Seaside, 
Clatsop,  Ore.,  to  spend  the  two  hot  months  near  our  Sunn_\- 
mead  home.  I  at  once  opened  my  office  at  this  popular 
summer  resort,  which  brought  me  in  several  hundred  dollars. 

Upon  returning  to  North  Yakima,  the  first  of  September, 
I  found  another  $100  surgical  case  awaiting  me ;  and  thus 
my  business  increased. 

The  following  summer,  instead  of  going  to  Seaside,  I 
went  to  Chicago,  and  entered  the  Chicago  Clinincal  School, 
for  physicians  only,  and  received  a  post-graduate  degree. 
I  found  it  exceedingly  hard  attending  lectures  and  clinics 
from  nine  till  six,  and  from  eight  to  nine  p.  m.,  in  that 
intense  Chicago  heat,  where  people  were  dying  frequently 
from  sunstroke.  I  left  home  July  1st,  and  returned  Sep- 
tember 11th,  feeling  well  repaid,  and  equipped  for  going  on 
with  my  professional  work.  I  had  reviewed  my  past  work, 
and  been  brought  up  to  date,  just  what  I  needed,  after  those 
eleven  years  on  the  farm. 

After  another  prosperous  year,  the  summer  found  us  again 
at  the  seaside,  with  my  sign  out.  That  vacation  proved  the 
most  profitable  of  any  preceding  it,  from  a  money  point  of 
view.  I  was,  of  course,  compelled  to  remain  at  my  office, 
except  when  on  professional  duty. 

As  my  business  increased,  I  found  that  my  professional, 
social  and  household  duties  were  pressing  me  very  hard.  T 
said :  "Colonel,  I  cannot  attend  to  my  professional  work 
which  must  not  be  neglected,  and  keep  house  any  longer. 
You  are  in  no  business  here,  and  I  think  you  had  better 
take  John  and  go  back  to  Sunnymead.    John's  health  is  poor 


Some  of  Her  Lii'i-:  ICxi-kujencks.  1 1  1 

here,  but  he  will  i^el  strcjiij^"  on  ihe  farm,  for  which  he  is 
always  grieving.  If  you  cannot  get  into  business  down  there, 
you  can  certainly  see  that  the  place  is  kept  up.  I  will  stay 
here  until  the  properties  are  made  self-supporting,  and  we 
have  a  sufficient  income  to  enable  us  to  live  comfortably  on 
the  farm,  and  llicn  1  slirdl  be  glad  to  retire,  and  return 
home." 

In  June,  1!)02,  he  and  John  went  to  Sunnxmcad,  and  es- 
tablished themselves  in  our  home  there.  Our  renters  were 
living  in  a  cottage  at  the  foot  of  the  hill.  I  have  spent  my 
vacations  with  them  since  that  time.  My  mother  and  niec 
were  with  them  nearly  a  year. 

Thus,  for  three  and  one-half  years,  I  continued  on,  each 
year  bringing  increased  rewards,  but  I  was  growing  tired  of 
that  constant,  grinding  treadmill,  not  that  I  was  not  physi- 
cally and  mentally  competent,  however.  I  had  more  time 
for  reading  and  writing  than  I  had  ever  had  before,  and  I 
improved  it.  I  still  took  my  cold  bath  every  morning,  fol- 
lowing it  with  vigorous  physical  exercise,  which  kept  me  in 
perfect  health,  and  I  had  a  large  country  practice,  which  I 
greatly  enjoyed.  I  had  a  good  horse  and  buggy,  and  always 
did  my  own  driving.  It  was  nothing  for  me  to  drive  twentv 
to  thirty  miles  at  a  time,  day  or  night.  I  was  not  at  all 
timid,  and  I  never  took  my  age  into  account,  but  my  son 
and  good  daughter-in-law  did.  She  would  say:  "Mamma, 
you  are  getting  too  old  for  that  sort  of  work,  and  I  do  not 
like  to  see  you  do  it." 

"But  I  am  not  old,  Hattie.  mentally  or  physically.  I  am 
strong  and  healthy ;  my  step  is  quick  and  active ;  and  you 
know  I  can  endure  more  now  than  most  women  of  forty- 
five,  and  if  everybod}'  here  did  not  know  I  am  Dr.  Hill's 
mother,  I  would  not  be  thought  any  older." 

"But  then  we  know  }ou  are." 

"Oh,  yes.  and  according  to  Dr.  Osier  I  ought  to  have 
been  chloroformed  five  rears  ago." 


112  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

"But,  mamma,  you  have  been  struggling  and  toiling  all 
your  life,  making  thousands  and  thousands  of  dollars,  and 
denying  yourself  all  the  comforts  and  pleasures  of  life,  when 
you  ought  to  have  been  living  off  the  proceeds  of  the  money 
you  have  earned,  instead  of  slaving  to  pay  off  miserable 
debts." 

"Yes,  that  is  all  true,  but  what  is  done  cannot  be  undone. 
Two  years  ago  I  set  my  stake,  as  I  did  in  early  life,  saying : 
'When  I  reach  those  figures,  I  will  stop.  With  continued 
health  and  strength,  I  shall  be  read}'  to  retire  in  1906, — 
perhaps  sooner.  Then  the  properties  will  be  self-support- 
ing, and  my  investments  here  will  return  me  sufficient  in- 
come to  assure  a  comfortable  support  on  the  farm.'  " 

That  time  came,  sooner  by  several  months  than  I  had  ex- 
pected, and  so,  on  October  10th,  1905,  I  closed  my  office 
door  in  North  Yakima,  where  the  community  had  so  gen- 
erously shown  their  confidence  and  friendship  by  giving  me 
their  patronage,  and  paying  for  my  services  a  sum  which 
amounted,  approximately,  to  $25,000. 

After  having  received  the  kindest  appreciation  from 
friends,  the  public  and  the  press,  I  bade  the  fair  city  adieu, 
and  with  my  good  horse.  Pride,  started  in  my  carriage  for 
The  Dalles,  much  desiring  to  make  the  trip  overland  once 
more.  I  took  dinner  with  my  esteemed  friends,  the  Hardi- 
sons,  of  Parker,  reaching  the  Simcoe  Mountains  that  even- 
ing, where  I  was  kindly  entertained  by  the  Jensens ;  reached 
Goldendale  the  next  evening,  and  enjoyed  a  visit  till  the 
afternoon  of  the  following  day  with  my  friends,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  John  Hess.  Reaching  The  Dalles,  I  took  passage  for 
myself  and  horse  on  the  steamer,  enjoying  once  again  that 
wonderful  trip  down  the  Columbia,  amid  scenery  acknowl- 
edged to  be  among  the  grandest  in  the  whole  world.  Reached 
Portland,  the  metropolis  of  Oregon,  at  four  p.  m.  Enjoyed 
dinner  and  a  short  visit  with  my  sisters  and  nieces,  and  then 
boarded  the   Potter,  which  landed  me  in  Astoria  at  seven 


Some  of  Heh  Life  Experiences.  113 

a.  ni.  Driving-  to  Senator  ('.  W.  T*"uUon's,  1  breakfasted  with 
tlicm,  after  wliieh  I  drove  on  over  to  Sunnymcad,  and 
reached  there  well  and  happy,  having  made  the  journey  in 
four  days,  collected  $10  of  bad  debts,  and  made  $20  more  on 
the  way,  and  having  enjoyed  the  trip  exceedingly,  notwith- 
standing the  earnest  counsel  of  many  that  it  was  too  late  in 
the  season  to  cross  the  mountains, — I  was  sure  to  have 
breakdowns,  etc.  I  knew  my  good  horse.  Pride,  and  I  had 
confidence  in  myself.  It  was  simply  undertaking  what  T 
had  been  doing  for  years,  and  was  to  me  a  stimulant  and 
rest,,  away  from  responsibility,  sickness  and  pain.  After  two 
months  on  the  farm  with  Colonel  Adair  and  John,  I  em- 
barlced  on  the  steamer  Roanoke,  en  route  for  National  Cit}', 
San  Diego  County,  California,  where  I  now  am  with  my  old 
and  much  loved  friend,  Mrs.  Inez  E.  Parker,  in  January,  in 
her  cosy  little  "Wren's  Nest."  In  this  the  most  beautiful 
of  climates,  amid  the  singing  of  birds,  and  the  fragrance 
of  flowers,  I  at  last  find  myself  free  to  take  up  that  work 
which,  for  so  many  years,  I  had  planned  to  do  after  m.y 
retirement, — write  a  book  on  medicine  from  a  woman's 
standpoint.  During  the  last  few  years,  however,  bv  the  ad- 
vice of  friends,  and  after  due  reflection  and  consideration, 
I  have  decided  that  my  first  effort  at  book-making  should  be 
one  of  reference  to,  and  records  of  early  events,  together 
with  short  sketches  of  the  lives  of  various  pioneers  of  Oregon, 
especially  those  of  Clatsop  County,  which  was  my  first,  and 
is  to  be  my  last  home,  and,  in  addition,  a  short,  plain,  truth- 
ful story  of  my  own  life.  In  rehearsing  it,  I  have  purposely 
stripped  it  of  the  sentiment,  love  and  romance  \\ ith  \\hich  my 
nature  has  always  been  super-charged,  and  which  has 
cheered  me  on  and  given  me  health  and  happiness  through- 
out a  long  career.  Such  are  and  should  be  bright  and  sacred 
spots  in  any  we^man's  life,  the  memories  of  which  can  never 
be  obliterated.  I  have  preserved  hundreds  of  pages  filled 
with  sentiment,  and  overflowing  with  love  and  adoration,  to 


114  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

which  I  can  turn  and  drink  again  at  the  fountain  of  youth, 
and  mature  hfe.  A  deathless  love  for  spring-time,  the 
youth  of  animal  and  plant-life,  is  perennial  in  m}'  heart,  and 
in  that  sweet  season,  Sunnymead  shall  put  on  her  gorgeous 
robes  of  beautiful  blossoms  and  shrubs  and  flowers.  The 
old  house  shall  be  renewed  and  re-dressed,  inside  and  out, 
and  made  ready  for  our  friends.  My  husband  loves  to  en- 
tertain;  the  latch-string  of  our  Sunnymead  home  shall  al- 
ways be  found  outside,  and  plentiful  pot-luck  within. 

In  1888,  Dr.  Hills'  wife  died,  and  I  received  my  then  only 
grand-child,  A'ictor  Adair  Hill,  into  my  heart  and  home. 
Years  after,  when  Dr.  Hill  married  again,  I  prevailed  upon 
him  to  allow  Colonel  Adair  and  myself  to  adopt  Victor, 
making  him  our  heir-at-law. 

In  3  891  I  officiated  at  the  birth  of  a  boy  whose  mother 
gave  me  her  child.  I  took  the  little  orphan  to  my  bosom, 
and  gave  it  a  share  of  my  mother-love,  and,  with  my  hus- 
band's consent,  I  called  him  John  Adair,  Jr.  Colonel  Adair 
and  I  have  perpetuated  our  family  name  through  a  plot 
known  as  Sunnymead  Addition  to  Astoria.  Through  the 
farm  and  plot  run  three  beautiful  streams,  one  of  which  we 
have  named  Adair  Creek,  another  Mattie  Belle,  and  the 
third,  Vera  Creek. 

The  longest  street  is  Hill  Street ;  another  is  called  Victor 
Street. 

I  hope  to  live  to  see  my  grand-son,  Victor  Adair  Hill, 
my  boy,  John,  and  my  grand-daughter,  Vera  Owens  Hill,  all 
grown,  and  settled  in  life,  before  I  take  my  departure. 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  115 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Perilous  Trij^  of  the  Steamship  Roanoke. 

Having'  been  requested  by  a  number  of  tbc  passene^ers  of 
the  Roanoke  to  give  the  Oregonian  an  account  of  her  late 
perilous  trip  to  San  Francisco  from  Portland,  I  respectfully 
submit  the  following : 

At  three  p.  m.,  November  27th,  1905,  Captain  Dunham, 
master  of  the  steamship  Roanoke,  attempted  to  cross  the 
Humboldt  Bar  at  Eureka.  There  was  a  heavy  sea,  and  the 
bar  was  very  rough.  When  nearly  across,  a  tremendous 
breaker  caught  the  ship,  driving  her  out  of  the  channel,  and 
carrying  away  her  rudder.  The  Captain  endeavored  to 
swing  her  back  into  the  channel,  but,  finding  she  would  not 
obey  her  rudder,  promptly  backed  her.  At  this  moment  the 
next  huge  on-coming  breaker,  gathering  force  as  it  came, 
struck  her  with  a  stupendous  force  that,  combined  with  the 
skilful  maneuvers  of  the  Captain,  swung  her  completely 
around,  with  her  prow  toward  the  sea.  Had  this  mightly 
wave  moved  against,  instead  of  with  his  efforts,  we  should 
have  inevitably  been  lost,  as  the  ship  was  heavily  laden,  and 
would  have  been  speedily  ground  to  fragments  on  that  seeth- 
ing, sinuous  bar.  Then,  with  added  steam,  she  was  forced 
across  the  spit,  on  which  she  struck  three  times  as  she 
passed,  with  such  violence  as  to  cause  her  to  shiver  from 
stem  to  stern,  with  a  noise  like  the  roar  of  a  cannon,  into 
deep  water. 

Now  she  rent  the  air  with  piercing  signals  of  distress,  and 
calls  for  help.  Meantime  she  was  vigorously  struggling,  so 
far  as  was  possible,  in  her  disabled  condition,  to  escape  the 
bar,  and  reach  the  open  sea.  Finally,  she  succeeded  in  reach- 
ing  comparative   safety,   and   soon   afterward   a   tug   from 


116  Dfx.  Owens -Adair. 

Eureka  came  out,  losing  one  of  her  life-boats  on  the  bar  in 
crossing,  to  our  assistance.  She  stood  by  all  that  night,  in 
case  her  help  should  be  needed.  The  barometer  then  in- 
dicated fair  weather. 

The  whole  of  that  night  was  occupied  by  Captain  Dunham 
and  his  crew  in  rigging  a  jury  rudder,  which  was  put  in 
place  about  eight  a.  m.  Between  six  and  seven,  Captain 
Dunham  had  dismissed  the  tug,  directing  its  master  to  tele- 
graph to  the  company  at  San  Francisco  that  he  would  pro- 
ceed under  jury  rudder,  and  requesting  them  to  dispatch  a 
tug  to  meet  him,  which  would  find  the  Roanoke  about 
twenty-five  miles  from  shore. 

Almost  immediately  the  new  rudder  broke,  and  was  ren- 
dered useless,  after  which  each  day  was  employed  in  con- 
structing and  shipping  new  rudders,  all  of  which  soon  met 
the  same  fate  as  did  the  others.  About  ten  a.  m.  a  south- 
east (off-shore)  breeze  providentially  sprung  up,  which  ma- 
terially aided  us  in  getting  out  to  set ;  for,  as  the  ship  re- 
volved in  her  rudderless  condition,  each  time  her  bow  was 
pointed  seaward,  the  full  force  of  the  engines  was  exerted 
to  force  her  forward,  thus,  in  seaman's  phrase,  "kicking" 
her  ahead ;  the  favoring  wind  helped  hold  her  to  her  course 
till  the  maneuver  was  accomplished.  This  continued  till 
between  eight  and  nine  that  evening,  when  a  terrific  north- 
east gale  set  in,  lashing  the  sea  into  a  raging  fury,  and  last- 
ing till  three  the  next  morning. 

And  now,  for  the  first  time  in  my  life,  I  realized  the  full 
and  awful  import  of  that  much-used  expression,  "Like  a  ship 
at  sea  without  a  rudder." 

Lying  prone  on  my  back ;  clinging  desperately  to  the  bars 
of  the  berth  above  me  to  prevent  being  thrown  violently  from 
my  own,  and,  perhaps,  crushed  to  death,  my  ears  filled  with 
the  pandemonium  overhead,  and  all  around, — furniture 
banging  from  side  to  side,  crockery  smashing,  everything 
movable  in  constant  and  violent  collision,  the  wind  shriek- 


SoMli  Ol'  I  IkII  LiI'K  F.xperiences.  1 17 

ini;',  and  tons  dF  waler  crasbinj:,''  down  upon  us,  even  filling 
the  smoke-stack, — every  awful  pluniL^'-e  of  the  vessel  threat- 
ening to  engulf  her, — so  the  long  hours  dragged  on.  In 
the  midst  of  all  this,  a  life-boat  was  wrenched  from  its 
davits,  and  smashed  into  kindling-wood;  anrl  two  immense 
iron  life-rafts  were  torn  loose,  and  raked  the  deck  back  and 
forth  with  every  movement  of  that  laboring  ship,  adding 
their  distracting  uproar  to  the  dreadful  din.  As  if  this  were 
not  enough,  the  jib-sail,  by  the  assistance  of  which  the  Cap- 
tain was  vainly  endeavoring  to  guide  his  distressed  vessel, 
was  torn  loose,  and  came  thundering  to  the  deck,  the  boom 
barely  escaping  his  own  and  his  first  officer's  heads,  and 
forcing  its  way  through  a  deck  window.  In  the  expressive 
language  of  Rev.  De  Witt  Talmage,  "God,  in  His  infinite 
mercy,  snatched  us  from  the  jaws  of  death,  and  delivered  us 
out  of  the  regions  of  hell." 

About  three  a.  m.,  Wednesday,  the  20th,  to  the  joy  of 
all  on  board,  the  fearful  storm  ceased,  but  the  waves, 
lashed  by  its  jury,  still  ran  mountain-high,  but  gradually 
calmed  down.  On  Thanksgiving  morning  the  sun  shone, 
out  like  the  approving  smile  of  God  upon  us ;  and  warmed 
us  back  to  renewed  life  and  hope.  On  Wednesday  morning 
the  Captain  had  said  to  me  at  the  breakfast  table :  "We  shall 
be  in  San  Francisco  on  Tlianksgiving"  ;  for  he  had  great 
faith  in  the  rudder  then  under  construction ;  but.  unfor- 
tunatel}^  it,  also,  was  carried  away  almost  as  soon  as  it  was 
in  position.  Nothing  daunted,  another  was  promptly  be- 
gun, and  in  the  form  of  what  is  called  a  "log."  made  of 
two  spars  lashed  tog'ether.  This  not  proving  a  success,  i: 
was  hoisted  on  board,  and  a  boom  lashed  between  the  spars, 
and  a  500-pound  anchor  attached.  This,  as  last,  proved  the 
successful  rudder  which  enabled  us  to  make  four  or  five 
miles  an  hour. 

Our  Thanksgiving  was  spent  on  board,  where  an  excel- 
lent dinner  was  enjoyed  by  every  passenger.  While  at  times 


lis  Du.  Owens -Adair, 

obliged  to  hold  to  the  table  to  preserve  equilibrium,  all  were 
only  too  glad  to  exchange  deadly  danger  for  such  slight  dis- 
comfort. 

Late  in  the  evening  the  doctored  rudder  was  lowered,  and 
the  staunch  ship  began  to  assert  her  normal  power.  Friday 
morning  was  bright  and  beautiful,  and  we  kept  on  our  course 
rejoicing.  At  three-thirty  Saturday  morning,  December  2d, 
the  tug  Reliance,  sent  out  by  the  owners  to  our  assistance, 
arrived  from  San  Francisco,  and  stood  close  by  till  after 
daylight,  when  she  was  attached  to  the  stern  of  the  Roanoke, 
where  she  acted  as  a  rudder  until  we  had  passed  through  the 
Golden  Gate,  after  which  she  came  alongside  the  steamship, 
and  assisted  her  to  her  pier. 

On  Friday  we  had  seen  several  ships,  and  at  ten  p.  m.,  a 
Seattle  steamer  spoke  us  and  threw  her  search-light  upon 
us ;  then  steamed  away  to  San  Francisco,  where  she  re- 
ported our  safety.  Saturday,  after  getting  well  inside  the 
harbor,  marked  excitement  was  seen.  First  came  a  little  tug 
belonging  to  the  company,  whose  crew  and  ours  seemed  to 
be  friends,  and  their  joyful  greetings  of  "Hello,  Jack,"  or 
"Jii"n,"  or  "Charley,"  and  "Harry,"  showed  where  the  heart 
was.  But  what  pleased  me  most  was  the  greeting  from  a 
young  boy  on  the  tug  to  another  on  the  Roanoke.  The  ex- 
pression of  happiness  on  the  face  of  that  young  lad  was  a 
sight  to  be  remembered.  He  seemed  to  see  no  one  but  his 
friend. 

A  score  of  boats  were  soon  around  us,  making  fast  to  the 
Reliance,  and  climbing  from  her  to  our  decks,  were  reporters 
and  men  galore. 

An  officer  of  the  company  came  out  in  a  small  boat,  and 
climbed  over  the  Reliance  to  us,  leaving  his  boatman  in  the 
skifif.  By  some  movement  of  her  propellor  the  tug  upset  the 
small  boat,  which  glided  off  like  a  shot.  The  occupant,  who 
had  jumped  clear  of  danger,  swam  for  his  upturned  boat, 
and  scrambled  up  on  her  bottom,  where  he  held  on  pluckily. 


SoMii  (jK  IIi:r  J.iik  I'^xi-krikncks.  110 

T1km-c  was  a  stronj:,^  cbl)  lidc,  .iiid  the  boat  was  floating'  off 
rapidly.  Our  crew  tlinvv  liim  a  lift'-buoy,  which  he  couU! 
nol  rt'ai-h.  I  Ic  hcL;:ni  ai  oiicc  In  divest  himself  of  clothing, 
while  our  crew  were  hastily  lowerinjif  a  life-boat,  which  was 
st)()ii  in  the  water,  and  oCf  to  the  rescue.  Meantime,  a  beau- 
tiful little  steamer, — a  (jovernnicnt  boat,  raced  out  unrler  f\d] 
steam,  and  rescued  the  man,  while  the  life-boat  went  on,  and 
picked  up  the  empty  boat,  and  the  sailor's  coat,  vest  arJ 
hat.     After  this  delay,  we  proceeded  to  the  dock. 

It  was  a  singular,  and  not  at  all  pleasant  sensation,  which 
we  felt,  as  we  read  our  names  in  the  published  death-list, 
well  knowing  what  that  must  have  meant  to  the  loved  ones 
at  home. 

One  young  man,  on  his  way  to  Arizona  for  his  health, 
said  to  me :  "Think  what  my  poor  mother  must  have  suf- 
fered !     But  I  have  telegraphed." 

There  was  a  general  rush  to  the  telegraph  office,  the  mo- 
ment we  could  leave  the  steamer,  to  send  our  already-pre- 
pared messages  home.  It  seemed  almost  like  being  resur- 
rected, to  be  again  on  solid  ground.  There  was  one  pas- 
senger, booked  for  Eureka,  worthy  of  mention, — a  rine, 
handsome  $1,000  thoroughbred  horse.  During  the  storm  his 
fastenings  were  broken,  and  he  was  pounded  about  most 
unmercifully,  and  finally  thrown  to  the  deck,  where,  m 
order  to  save  his  life,  he  was  lashed  down  on  his  side.  Thus 
he  lay  till  Friday  afternoon,  when  the  sailors  raised  him 
with  block  and  tackle,  supporting  him  in  a  swing,  with  mat- 
tresses around  him,  to  prevent  further  injury.  On  reaching 
the  dock,  he  was  gotten  ashore,  and  a  veterinary  surgeon 
called  at  once.  The  first  thing  he  did,  before  taking  him  to 
the  hospital  for  horses,  was  to  open  three  abscesses.  He 
also  found  one  more,  to  be  opened  later.  He  pronounced 
the  prospects  for  the  valuable  animal's  recovery  good, 
though  the  blemishes  he  must  always  carry  would  be  re- 
minders of  that  memorable  vovaee. 


120  Dn.  Owens -Adair. 

There  were  man}'  interesting  and  characteristic  occur- 
rences on  board  the  Roanoke  during  our  eventful  trip,  in 
addition  to  those  included  in  my  report  to  the  Oregon! an 
and  the  Yakima  p.epublic,  which  might  make  good  reading. 
I  will  mention  only  a  few. 

During  the  beginning  of  the  storm,  a  lady  was  thrown 
violently  to  the  floor,  and  sustained  a  severe  scalp  wound. 
Her  son,  a  young  man,  rushing  to  his  mother's  assistance, 
was  pitched  with  such  frightful  force  against  the  piano  tl:at 
one  of  its  legs  was  broken  completely  off.  With  great  dif- 
ficulty mother  and  son  were  carried  to  the  nearest  stateroom, 
to  receive  needed  attention. 

AVith  a  steady  barometer,  the  appearance  of  the  sun,  and 
a  calming  sea,  our  heart-felt  Thanksgiving  was  ushered  in, 
bringing  with  it  a  hope  and  happiness  which  shone  on  every 
face.  Nowhere,  perhaps,  in  the  wide  world  are  attachments 
and  friendships  more  quickly  formed  than  on  shipboard. 

We  had  an  intelligent  company,  and  talent,  as  well,  and 
excellent  music,  both  instrumental  and  vocal,  was  furnished, 
that  crippled  piano  being  kept  busy  sending  out  sweet  and 
melodious  sounds,  while  the  young  folks  never  seemed  to. 
tire  of  coon  and  love-songs,  in  which  all  would  join  in  the 
chorus,  with  hearty  good-will. 

The  Captain  allowed  a  young  man  in  the  steerage, — a 
gentleman  in  education  and  manners, — to  come  to  the  first 
cabin  to  add  to  our  entertainment.  He  made  the  piano 
"talk"  eloquently  by  the  hour. 

Countless  jokes  and  puns  were  indulged  in,  at  the  expense 
of  the  Roanoke,  and,  in  this  way,  we  learned  that  we  had  a 
real,  live  poet  on  board,  Mrs.  Bancroft,  of  Portland,  Oregon, 
as  the  following  will  attest : 


SoiMF,  ()i<'  lli;i{  I. Ill';  ICxi'i'.uiENCES.  121 

"Dear  Santa  Clans,  send  ns  a  riuMer ; 

We  need  one  awfully  bad; 
Wc  lost  our  own  on  ICurck-a  bar; — 
Mafic  anotbcr  with  a  rotten  sj)ar  ; 
And  now  we  don't  know  where  we  are , 

Our  plii^ht  is  very  sad. 

This  is  a  dreadful  lliini^:  to  be  bumped 

Around  in  a  stormy  sea. 
We've  asked  the  Captain  to  stO|)  the  ship ; 
Have  given  all  the  crew  the  ti[) ; 
But  it's  all  no  go, — they  don't  care  a  rip, 

So  send  us  a  rudder,  C.  O.  D." 

The  first  persons  I  met,  on  boarding  the  Roanoke  at  As- 
toria, were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  T.  Webb,  pioneers  of  Portland, 
Or.  They  had  seen  my  name  in  the  passenger  list,  and  were 
looking  out  for  me.  I  was  delighted  to  find  friends,  and  espe- 
cially so  to  find  we  were  all  booked  for  San  Pedro.  The 
next  morning  after  our  belated  arrival  in  San  Francisco  we 
embarked  on  the  beautiful  steamer  Santa  Rosa  for  Southern 
California.  This  delightful  trip  acted  as  a  soothing  balm  to 
our  wearied  minds  and  bodies.  It  did  not  seem  possible  that 
we  were  on  the  ocean.  It  certainl}'  is  the  most  lovely  sea-voy- 
age any  person  could  ever  expect  to  take.  We  were  in  sight 
of  the  shore  almost  the  entire  distance  of  over  seven  hundred 
miles ;  and,  with  the  aid  of  Mr.  Webb's  field  glasses,  and 
sometimes  without  them,  we  could  see  herds  of  horses  and 
cattle  feeding  on  the  hillsides,  and  get  excellent  views  of 
the  farms,  villages  and  cities,  as  we  glided  on  so  smoothly. 

At  Los  Angeles  we  reluctantly  parted  company,  to  meet 
in  San  Diego  a  few  weeks  later.  I  reached  San  Diego  early 
in  the  morning  of  December  5,  where  my  life-long  friend, 
Mrs.  Inez  E.  Parker,  met  me  at  the  depot,  and  we  were 
both  happy  to  meet  on  this  earth  once  more.  We  were  soon 
on  our  war  to  her  cosv  little  home,   "The  Wren's  Nest," 


122  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

which  to  me  will  be  a  quiet  haven  of  rest.  I  hope  the  beau- 
ties of  this  pretty  little  suburb  will  inspire  the  muse  to  come 
to  my  aid,  that  I  ma}'  use  the  golden  pen,  even  as  Captain 
Lemon  said  I  would  do,  on  the  occasion  of  its  presentation 
by  Syringa  Chapter, — "For  the  good  of  humanity." 

With  an  extract  from  a  letter  from  my  friend,  Miss 
Mary  Wherry,  I  will  close  this  chapter : 

Toppenish,  Wash.,  Dec.  4,  1905. 

i\'Iy  Dear  Friend — You  will  never  know  with  what  anxiety 
we  watched  for  reports  of  the  Roanolce,  not  knowing  wheth- 
er you  sailed  on  her  or  not,  but  believing  you  did.  If  you 
were  aboard,  allow  us  to  congratulate  you  on  your  safe 
arrival.  It  must  have  been  a  dreadful  experience.  I'll  bet 
you  helped  the  crew  to  fix  the  jury-rudder,  if  they  would 
allow  vou.  At  any  rate,  you  will  have  some  more  valuable 
matter  for  your  book.  It  did  not  seem  possible  now  that 
you  are  just  getting  through  your  struggle, — just  getting 
ready  to  live, — that  you  could  meet  with  such  a  dreadful 
death. 

I  hope  you  will  live  many  more  useful  years  yet;  and  I 
truly  hope  that  all  your  undertakings  will  be  crowned  with 
success,  and  when  you  start  on  your  final  voyage  that  you 
mav  enter  the  Golden  Gate  as  safely  as  you  did  this  time. 


Some  of  IIi:r  Lfro  Experiences.  123 


ClfAITRR  X. 
CHRISTMAS  OF  r.)()."),  WHICH  i-.kcan  so  happily,  and  came 

NEAR    ICNDING    IN    A   TRAGEDY. 

The  sun  rose  in  all  his  cffulf^cnt  i^lory.  The  birds  were 
singing  their  early  Christmas  anthems,  while  the  flowers 
were  adding  their  sweet  fragrance.  The  morning  was  filled 
with  many  and  varied  Christmas  blessings.  Mrs.  Parker 
and  I  were  up  on  time,  adding  our  congratulations  for  all 
the  beauties  and  blessings  which  surrounded  us. 

We  were  to  take  our  Christmas  dinner,  by  invitation, 
with  our  mutual  friends,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pitman  Parker,  of 
San  Diego.  Mrs.  Parker  had  said,  "Be  sure  and  come  early, 
so  we  can  have  a  good  visit,"  and  we  had  decided  to  leave 
"The  Wren's  Nest"  at  8  :oO  a.  m.,  so  as  to  catch  the  nine 
o'clock  train  to  town.  In  the  midst  of  our  preparations  a 
good  neighbor  appeared  with  one  hand  full  of  holly  and  a 
live  chicken  in  the  other, — a  "Merry  Christmas"  for  'Sirs. 
Parker,  who  was  profuse  in  her  thanks,  but  said,  "I  am 
afraid  I  shall  never  be  able  to  kill  it." 

"Don't  worry,"  I  said ;  "I'll  attend  to  that.  Better  let 
me  kill  it  now."  "No,  the  poor  thing  shall  have  one  more 
day  to  live,"  she  said,  and  started  off  with  it,  as  I  sup- 
posed to  shut  it  up  in  a  little  chicken  house  at  the  back. 
But  in  a  few  moments,  to  my  astonishment,  I  saw  Mr. 
Chicken  marching  around  in  a  small  enclosure  which  had 
recently  been  planted  with  great  care  to  vegetables,  the  peas 
just  beginning  to  make  their  appearance. 

"For  goodness  sake !  What  did  you  put  that  chicken  in 
there  for?  There  won't  be  a  pea  or  anything  left  by  the 
time  we  get  home,"  I  exclaimed.  Back  she  went  to  catch 
the  chicken,  but,   having  good   wings   and  no  mind   to  be 


124  Dk.  Owens  -  Adair. 

caught  again,  he  was  outside  in  two  seconds.  Then  we 
both  salHed  out  in  the  deep,  dewy  grass  and  tried  to  drive 
him  back  into  the  yard,  but  I  soon  gave  up  the  chase  and 
returned  to  prepare  breakfast.  At  last  she  got  him  headed 
toward  a  neighbor  who  kept  chickens,  where  she  hoped  to 
recover  him  later.  Coming  to  a  thick  cypress  hedge,  he 
took  refuge  in  it,  and  wedged  himself  as  far  in  as  he  could, 
where  he  was  captured.  I  saw  her  coming,  stroking  and 
talking  reassuringly  to  the  chicken.  I  went  to  meet  her,  and 
said : 

"You  had  better  let  me  kill  the  chicken,  and  be  done 
with  it." 

"'Well,  perhaps  that  is  the  way  to  give  the  least  suffer- 
ing to  the  poor  thing,"  she  said,  with  tears  in  her  voice. 
She  ran  for  the  hatchet,  but  it  was  all  over  before  she  could 
get  back,  and  in  fifteen  minutes  more  it  was  dressed  and  in 
the  cold  safe,  ready  for  our  next  day's  dinner.  We  were  at 
the  station  ahead  of  time,  each  carrying  a  huge  bundle  of 
roots,  cuttings  and  flowers,  as  Christmas  offerings  to  our 
hosts.  Strange !  We  heard  no  train  coming ;  we  could 
always  hear  it  twenty  minutes  before  it  reached  our  station. 
At  last  it  dawned  upon  us  that,  as  the  "9"  was  a  freight 
train,  with  only  an  accommodation  car  attached,  it  had 
been  laid  off  for  the  day,  and  we  were  not  very  sure  of  a 
ten  o'clock  train,  either,  so,  as  it  was  only  three  and  one- 
half  miles  to  our  destination,  I  said,  "Let  us  walk ;  the 
road  is  so  beautiful,  with  the  mountains  on  one  side  and  the 
bay  on  the  other,"  and  off  we  went,  enjoying  ever}^  step  of 
it.  After  a  delicious  dinner  and  a  delightful  social  time 
we  concluded  to  walk  home,  as  the  train  did  not  reach  our 
station  till  5  :30.  We  started  about  4  :30  p.  m.  The  oiled 
road  was  smooth  and  level,  the  scenery  of  mountains,  bay 
and  islands  grand,  and  the  day  was  like  "a  day  in  June." 

"What  is  so  rare  as  a  day  in  June  ?" 


SoMic  <)i'    WvM   I.iiic   F,xi'p:f<iences.  12/5 

We  had  -^our  alxml  lialf  vva}-  wlini  \vc  were  overtaken 
1)y  an  elderly  couple  in  a  lii^lit  s])rinj:(  vva^(jn,  who  urged 
us  to  ride.  Wc  accepted  with  thanks,  and  proceeded  to  get 
acquainted  with  our  new  friends,  whom  we  found  intelli- 
gent and  congenial,  and  the  time  passed  rapidly  till  wc  were 
near  our  station.  When  opposite  a  small  house  on  an  ele- 
vation, and  surrounded  by  trees,  some  250  feet  from  the 
road,  we  heard  loud  cries.  Mrs.  Wellington  said,  "What 
is  that?" 

"Children  having  Christmas,"  I  answered,  and  Airs.  Park- 
er said:  "That  is  where  an  old  lady,  ninety-three  years  old. 
lives  all  alone." 

Then  came  a  terrible  scream,  followed  by  continuous 
shrieks,  and  I  said,  "That's  a  woman's  voice !  Let's  go 
quickly,"  and  Mrs.  Parker  said,  "Yes,  something  dreadful 
is  the  matter  with  the  old  lady.  Let  us  go  and  help  her." 
r  naturally  thought  the  old  lady  was  dying,  and  some  hys- 
terical woman  was  frightened  by  being  alone  in  the  pres- 
ence of  death.  Mr.  Wellington  was  seventy-three,  and  very 
deaf  and  heard  nothing.  His  wife  soon  succeeded  in  mak- 
ing him  understand,  and  he  drove  up  to  the  gateway,  about 
fifty  feet  from  the  house,  which  stood  between  three  hundred 
and  four  hundred  feet  from  the  station.  The  moment  the 
conveyance  stopped  Airs.  Parker  and  I  jumped  out  from 
the  back  and  ran  to  the  house.  Airs.  Wellington,  who  was 
a  large,  tall,  fleshy  woman,  said,  "I'll  go,  too"  ;  but  we  soon 
distanced  -her.  The  front  door  was  open  and  a  bright 
light  shone  from  the  door  and  two  windows,  one  being 
near  the  front  door. 

The  frightful  screams  had  been  kept  up  until  now.  Look- 
ing ahead  I  saw  shadows.  Airs.  Parker  and  I  were  run- 
ning side  by  side.  Being  next  to  the  wall  I  stopped  a  sec- 
ond to  glance  into  the  window,  while  Airs.  Parker  sprang 
in  at  the  door.  We  both  saw  an  old  lady  on  the  floor,  across 
and  in  front  of  the  doorwav  which  led  into  the  back  room 


126  Dk.  Owens  -  Adair. 

and  directly  opposite  the  front  door.  Her  face  was  covered 
with  blood,  and  a  big,  burly  man  in  his  shirt  sleeves  was 
bending  over  her  with  his  back  to  us,  apparently  jamming 
her  down  on  the  floor.     Mrs.  Parker  cried  out : 

"What  are  you  doing  to  that  woman?    Let  her  alone!" 
By  this  time  I  was  inside  the  door,  and  called  out:  "Let 
that  woman  alone,  you  brute  !" 

Instantly  he  whirled,  and  bellowing  out,  "What  are  you 
here  for,  meddling  in  my  business  ?  /'//  fix  you !"  he  sprang 
for  me  savagely.  I  knew  then  what  to  expect,  and  turned 
to  dart  out  of  the  door,  calling  loudly :  "Run !"  But  he  had 
cleared  the  twelve  or  fifteen  feet  between  us  and  grabbed  me. 
I  felt  the  grip  of  his  hand  on  my  shoulder,  but  I  wore  a 
loose  jacket,  and  I  threw  my  arm  back  and  let  it  slip  off, 
and  was  out  of  his  reach  in  a  second  and  speeding  down 
the  hill.  As  1  ran  I  saw  Mrs.  Wellington  about  ten  feet 
from  me.  .She  had  heard  my  warning  voice  and  had  started 
for  the  wagon.  The  next  moment  I  heard  her  scream,  and, 
glancing  over  my  shoulder,  I  saw  her  on  the  ground — the 
villain  was  there,  kicking  her.  At  the  same  time  I  saw  Mrs. 
Parker  rushing  by  them,  toward  the  station,  screaming 
"Help !  Help !"  I  knew  she  was  on  her  way  there,  for  the 
train  was  just  passing  us.  I  rushed  down  the  hill  and 
around  to  the  wagon,  which  was  about  six  times  the  dis- 
tance necessary,  but  it  was  now  so  dark  I  could  not  see  the 
direct  course.  I  had  just  succeeded  in  getting  Mr.  Welling- 
ton out  of  the  conveyance  when  Mrs.  Wellington -came  run- 
ning up  to  us,  and  on  looking  around  I  saw  the  brute  com- 
ing" and  making  straight  for  me.  I  snatched  the  whip  from 
the  socket,  which  was  heavy  and  loaded  with  an  iron  rod, 
and  when  he  was  within  ten  feet  of  me  I  rushed  at  him 
and  dealt  him  a  blow  on  the  side  of  his  head  with  the  butt 
of  the  whip  with  all  the  strength  I  possessed.  It  was  suffi- 
cient to  break  the  whip  and  to  stagger  him ;  but  the  next 
instant  he  struck  me  with  his  closed  fist  over  my  right  ear. 


SoMK  OK  lli'.K  l.iiic  I'^\im:i<iknce.s,  127 

and  (lr()[)pc(l  iiic  as  if  I  had  Ijcen  struck  with  a  bullet.  As 
I  fell  he  snatched  the  whip  from  my  hand.  Mr.  Wellington 
now  rushed  at  him,  attempting,  in  his  feebleness,  to  defend 
me,  but  he  received  a  similar  blow  from  the  ruffian,  which 
laid  him  on  the  ground.  The  villain  now  began  beating  him 
over  the  head  with  the  broken  whip  handle.  This  gave  me 
a  chance  to  spring  to  my  feet  and  run  toward  the  station. 
I  had  not  gone  more  than  thirty  feet  when  I  saw  through 
the  darkness  the  outlines  of  three  men  with  Mrs.  Parker. 
I  called  out,  "Run,  run,  or  he  will  kill  us  all !" 

They  quickened  their  already  rapid  pace,  and  as  soon 
as  that  miserable  wretch  saw  the  men  he  straightened  up 
and  became  as  meek  as  a  lamb.  He  came  right  up,  saying. 
*''My  name  is  Farrcl.  I  haven't  done  anything."  We  then 
all  went  up  to  the  house  and  found  the  old  lady  standing 
in  the  middle  of  the  room  with  her  face  streaming  with 
blood.  She  assured  us  that  Farrel  had  not  intended  to  hurt 
her,  but  was  after  a  Mexican  woman,  who  had  made  a 
shield  of  her  to  protect  herself.  She  said  she  would  be 
all  right,  and  requested  us  all  to  go  home  and  leave  her 
alone.  She  is  a  spiritualist,  claims  to  live  with  the  angels, 
and  to  talk  with  God,  face  to  face,  and  she  expects  to  be 
transported  to  heaven  as  was  Elijah. 

It  developed  later  that  Airs.  Wellington  had  started  to 
run,  and,  stepping  into  a  hole,  had  fallen  down,  and  before 
she  could  get  up  the  rufifian  left  ofif  his  pursuit  of  me  and 
rushed  up  and  gave  her  a  most  vicious  kick,  with  all  the 
force  he  could  put  into  his  heavy  boot,  in  her  abdomen ;  but, 
as  I  have  said,  she  is  a  powerful  woman,  and  returned  his 
kicks  with  vigor.  As  she  was  still  on  the  ground  he  caught 
her  feet  and  started  to  drag  her  down  the  hill,  and  in  so 
doing  he  stepped  into  a  hole  and  fell  down  backward  him- 
self, thus  giving"  her  a  chance  to  regain  her  feet  and  reach 
the  vehicle  by  the  shortest  route,  which  was  not  more  than 
fiftv  feet. 


128  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

Mrs.  Parker  had  screamed  to  Mr.  Wellington  as  she 
passed  him,  but  owing  to  his  extreme  deafness  he  had  sat 
holding  the  horses,  in  blissful  ignorance  of  the  whole  oc- 
currence until  I  screamed  into  his  ear  to  get  out  and  help  us. 

All  this  was  begun  and  ended  within  ten  minutes,  and  in 
that  short  time  the  brute  had  injured  five  women  and  one 
old  man,  the  combined  ages  of  the  persons  attacked  by  him 

amounting  to  over  four  hundred  years,  namely  :  Mrs. , 

93 ;  Air.  W.,  73  ;  Mrs.  W.,  57  ;  Mrs.  P.,  60  ;  Mexican  woman, 
37 ;  myself,  6G,  and  the  assaulter  himself  past  50.  As  Mrs. 
Parker  said,  it  was  an  "old  folks'  party"  (or  "scrap"),  and 
the  liveliest  one  she  ever  attended,  especially  as  our  party 
of  five  had  never  met  one  of  the  participants  before. 

I  went  over  early  the  next  morning  to  see  the  old  lady,  as  I 
feared  the  shock  might  have  been  too  much  for  her.  I  found 
her  up,  and  "O.  K."  She  showed  me  her  bruises,  and  I  ex- 
amined her  face  wound  and  said,  "You  will  come  out  all 
right,  and  will  only  have  a  scar  to  remind  you  of  the 
affair." 

"Oh,  no,  there  will  never  be  a  scar,"  she  responded;  "I 
am  engaged  in  a  great  work.   I  talk  with  God,  face  to  face." 

She  told  me  that  the  man  Parrel  was  drinking  and  got 
into  a  row  with  the  Mexican  woman  over  a  cow,  and  the 
woman  ran  to  her  for  protection,  throwing  her  arms  tightly 
around  her  and  making  of  her  a  shield  from  the  man's 
blows.  "He  swore  that  he  would  kill  her,"  said  the  old 
lady,  "and  he  would  have  done  so  if  you  had  not  appeared 
just  when  you  did,  for  he  had  knocked  us  both  down." 

"Where  was  the  Mexican  woman?" 

"When  he  left  us  for  you  the  Mexican  woman  slipped  out 
and  ran  home." 

Parrel  went  to  her  and  the  Mexican  woman  the  next 
morning  and  begged  forgiveness,  and  claimed  that  he  had 
no  recollection  of  anything  that  happened  the  night  before. 
Thev  forgave  him. 


Some  of  Her  Life  Exferiences.  12'J 

Mr.  Wellinj:(ton  was  badly  hurt,  and  so  was  his  wife. 
I  treated  my  head  to  poultices  and  hot-water  bags  for  two 
weeks.  Mrs.  Parker  was  the  only  one  of  us  who  had  not 
felt  the  power  of  his  fist  or  foot,  but  she  suffered  more 
from  nervous  shock  than  I  did  from  my  "knock-out." 

The  man  declared  afterward  that  "someone  hit  him  with 
a  rock."  The  supposed  "rock"  was  the  butt-end  of  that 
loaded  wagon  whip,  and  I  am  free  to  say  that  I  greatly 
regret  that  it  had  not  been  a  rod  of  iron  with  which  I  could 
have  knocked  him  down  and  pelted  him  over  the  head  with 
it,  as  he  did  poor  old  MV.  Wellington  after  he  had  knocked 
him  down.  The  wonder  is  that  any  of  us  escaped  alive 
in  such  an  encounter  with  an  alcohol ically-crazed  brute. 

My  grandson,  Victor,  wrote :  "I  read  in  the  papers  about 
your  terrible  trip  on  the*  Roanoke,  and  saw  your  letter  about 
your  fight  with  the  drunken  man.  It  seems  to  me  California 
is  not  very  healthy  for  you." 

Mrs.  Hill  writes :  "We  received  your  letter,  and  enjoyed 
every  word  of  the  description  of  how  you  spent  your  Christ- 
mas, Doctor  said,  'Well,  mother  has  plent  of  the  Owens 
grit  left  yet' ;  but  my  opinion  is  that  a  few  more  such  ex- 
periences like  your  trip  on  the  Roanoke  and  your  Christmas 
adventure  and  you  will  be  brought  home  in  a  box.  In  the 
language  of  the  schoolboy,  you  are  certainly  'having  the  time 
of  your  life !'  " 

mattie's  diary  :    a  picture  of  sunnymead   home  life. 

Sunnymead  Farm,  January  1st,  1890. 
This  has  been  a  stormy  beginning  for  the  new  year.  There 
has  been  snow,  rain  and  hail  at  intervals,  interspersed  with 
sunshine.  9  :30  P.  M. — It  is  clear  and  cold.  To-day  we 
have  had  the  first  snow  of  the  winter,  except  enough  to 
cover  the  ground  yesterday  morning..  The  cattle  are  all 
doing  well.  Dr.  and  Col.  have  Devon  up  to-day.  We 
expect  a  calf  in  a  few  days.    I  prophesy  that  she  will  have  a 


130  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

heifer.  (Devon  was  the  cow  that  Mattie  Hked  best,  and  Dr. 
Adair  had  g'iven  the  cow  to  her.)  All  the  members  of  the 
family  have  been  busy,  and  consequently  there  has  been  con- 
siderable work  of  different  kinds  accomplished.  Sallie  and  I 
ironed  and  baked  this  morning,  while  Victor  amused  us  with 
his  pranks  and  mischief.  We  had  a  nice  little  dinner  alone, 
and  enjoyed  it,  too.  This  evening  Col  has  been  reading 
Edward  Bellamy's  "Looking  Backward,"  and  the  papers. 
Sallie  and  Victor  had  a  romp  before  their  bed-time.  (Sallie 
is  the  doctor's  niece,  about  12  years  old.) 

January  2 — There  was  about  six  inches  of  snow  this  morn- 
ing and  it  kept  coming  down  all  day,  at  times.  I  have  been 
sick  to-day  and  have  not  noted  many  events.  This  afternoon 
Victor  came  into  the  sitting-room  looking  very  sober,  and 
said :  "Well !  I  think  everybody's'  out  of  humor  to-day." 
I  had  told  him  a  short  time  before  not  to  climb  over  the 
back  of  my  chair,  and  his  grandmother  had  sent  him  out 
of  the  kitchen.  Sallie  and  Victor  gave  a  performance  from 
"Little  Lord   Fauntleroy." 

January  3 — Weather  is  still  clear  and  cold.  Temperature  at 
Skipanon-  22  degrees  above  zero.  Dr.  went  to  town  this 
morning,  expecting  to  go  to  Portland  to-night  to  attend  the 
meeting  of  the  stockholders  of  the  Oregon  Prohibition  Pub. 
Society,  which  will  be  held  on  the  4th.  This  afternoon  Col. 
brought  up  one  ewe  with  two  lambs. 

January  4 — Clear  and  cold.  Have  been  sick  to-day,  and 
Victor  wanted  to  start  this  morning  to  bring  his  grandmother 
home.  He  only  wished  he  was  a  big  man.  Then  he  would 
go  at  all  hazards.  He  is  remarkably  affectionate  and  sym- 
pathetic for  a  child  only  four  years  old. 

January  5 — Sallie  cooked  a  nice  breakfast  all  alone,  which 
we  all  enjoyed.  About  noon  Dr.  walked  in  on  us,  much  to 
ou  surprise  and  delight.  Victor  has  been  a  good  boy  ever 
since  his  grandma  went  away.     I  have  been  sick  to-day. 

January  6— Clear  and  cold.     Col.  found  Devon  with  a  red 


SOMF.    OF    IIfR    LlI'F    KXI'KRIFNCF.S,  Vol 

heifer  calf  this  nioniinf^-.  Am  .sici<  to-day,  and  Victor  as- 
sisted in  bringing  up  my  breakfast.  He  also  poured  and 
creamed  my  coffee,  and  assisted  in  eating  the  toast.  I  lot 
him  carry  all  the  things  down,  not  excepting  my  new  cup 
and  saucer.  Of  course  he  was  delighted  to  find  himself  of 
so  much  importance. 

January  7 — Victor  helped  to  bring  u])  my  breakfast  and 
entertained  me  while  T  ate.  Then  he  drank  all  the  cream. 
Said  he  was  a  great  lover  of  cream  ;  also  knew  all  about 
taking  care  of  sick  people.  "Just  call  me  if  you  want  any- 
thing."   Then  he  was  off  to  the  barn. 

January  8 — It  is  still  clear  and  cold.  Sallic  and  X'ictor 
have  been  having  a  merry  time  sliding  and  "kating,"  as 
Victor  says.  Dr.  got  a  nice  dinner  to-day.  I  did  some 
darning,  and  mended  Col.'s  gloves  while  he  read.  He  began 
reading  Bryant's  United  States  History. 

January  15 — Victor  jumped  on  his  grandma's  back  while 
she  was  putting  pies  in  the  oven,  and  pulled  her  down  on 
the  floor.  He  did  the  same  when  she  took  them  out.  and 
upset  a  custard  on  the  floor.  He  was  held  to  be  in  dis- 
grace by  all  of  us,  but  the  punishment  was  not  so  severe  as 
to  interfere  with  his  enjoyment  of  the  piecrust,  which  he 
said  was  nice.  Victor  sat  in  his  grandpa's  place  at  dinner, 
said  grace,  and  served  the  plates.  He  was  excited,  and 
amused  us  all  very  much  with  his  performance.  \\q  had 
fried  tripe,  and  there  happened  to  be  one  piece  at  least  six 
or  eight  inches  long,  which  he  took  on  the  fork  and  insisting 
on  passing  to  each  one  of  us  in  turn,  asking  if  we  would 
have  it.  At  last  he  helped  the  plates  very  nicely,  but  under- 
took to  pass  his  grandma  a  piece  of  bread  with  his  fingers, 
which  I  fear  were  not  very  clean,  and  his  face  did  not  ap- 
pear to  have  been  washed  for  an  indefinitely  long  time. 
However,  he  was  the  picture  of  health,  and  embodied  lots 
of  sunshine  for  so  small  a  personage.  I'm  sure  we  would 
hardly  be  able  to  get  along  without  him,  with  all  his  mis- 


132  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

deeds.  He  wheeled  in  lots  of  stove  wood  to-day  and  filled 
,the  box.  Dr.  is  cutting  out  a  dress  for  Sallie.  Victor  is 
having  his  romp,  and  Sallie  is  practising.  Here  is  a  panic! 
Victor  comes  and  says  he  has  some  popcorn  up  his  nose ! 
He  said:  "I  didn't  put  it  up  there,  it  just  went  up  itself." 
By  blowing  hard  he  got  the  corn  out.  He  went  to  sleep  at 
7  o'clock,  delighted  with  the  idea  of  sleeping  with  his  "dear 
grandma." 

January  16 — Cold  rain,  with  S.  E.  and  S.  W.  winds  alter- 
nating all  day.  Col.  is  not  at  home  yet,  so  Dr.  and  Jim  went 
out  to  see  about  the  sheep  this  afternoon,  and  found  a  ewe 
with  two  dead  lambs.  Victor  has  played  with  one  all  even- 
ing, and  insists  that  it  is  not  dead,  "for  it  moves  its  head, 
wiggles  its  tail,  and  has  one  eye  open,"  which  in  his  opinion 
is  positive  proof  of  its  being  alive.  This  morning  Victor 
asked  his  grandma  if  he  might  pour  his  tea  into  his  saucer. 
She  found  that  Ralph  Dawson  did  that.  She  told  Victor 
that  he  had  stored  it  up  in  his  memory  for  future  use.  Then 
she  gave  us  a  beautiful  talk  about  how  important  it  is  that 
we  should  improve  our  minds  by  storing  up  beautiful 
thoughts,  and  using  correct  and  ornamental  language.  Sallie 
and  Victor,  and  each  of  us  are  trying  to  gather  the  precious 
things  in  our  early  life,  so  that  when  the  summer  and  au- 
tumn time  shall  come,  we  will  be  the  possessors  of  caskets 
filled  with  jewels  of  priceless  value,  not  only  to  ourselves, 
but  to  those  around  us,  as  well. 

January  17 — Today  has  been  cloudy,  with  some  rain ;  the 
snow  is  melting  slowly.  Dr.  went  to  town,  and  Col.  came 
home  this  morning.  Sallie  and  Victor  buried  the  little  lamb, 
but  Victor's  dear,  tender  little  heart  was  almost  broken.  He 
said  that  he  could  not  see  it  buried,  and  turned  away  crying. 
It  reminded  him  that  his  mamma  was  buried  too,  so  we  sent 
him  and  Sallie  to  the  barn  to  play  with  the  live  lambs.  He 
has  been  a  dear  little  boy  all  day,  and  anxiously  expected  his 
darling  grandma  to  come,  for  he  expected  marbles.     Sud- 


SoMic  OF  Her  Lite  ExpiiRiKNCRS.  133 

denly  this  afternoon  he  turned  into  a  brown  bear  and 
frightened  me  so!  Finally  I  found  that  the  bear  was  quite 
tame.  Then  I  felt  very  safe.  The  Dr.  was  late  getting  home, 
as  the  boat  did  not  reach  the  lanrling  till  six  o'clock.  Sallie 
started  to  meet  her  at  three-thirty,  so  we  were  very  much 
worried  for  fear  something  had  happened  to  them.  Col.  and 
Jim  set  out  at  half  past  six,  with  lanterns,  and  at  nine  o'clock 
brought  home  the  lost  ones.  Victor  set  the  table  alone,  all 
but  two  dishes,  and  did  it  nicely,  too.  We  had  a  nice  supper, 
fried  chicken,  with  rice,  etc.,  with  nice  gems  and  gravy.  Our 
little  boy  went  to  sleep  on  the  lounge  immediately  after 
supper. 

January  18 — Clear  all  day,  and  the  sun  was  warm  as 
spring  this  afternoon.  We  ate  dinner,  with  the  dining-room 
windows  open.  Dr.  made  a  call  to  Mrs.  Jeffers ;  was  back 
by  two  o'clock.  Victor  has  been  good  and  sweet  all  day.  He 
has  been  carrying  a  piece  of  calico  rag  for  a  handkerchief. 
He  can't  keep  a  good  one,  but  has  had  this  for  nearly  a  week. 
We  call  him  our  "Little  Lord  Fauntleroy,"  but  I  scarcely 
think  the  title  and  handkerchief  are  suitable  companions,  so 
tonight  I  gave  him  a  clean  handkerchief,  which  I  found  on 
the  floor  after  he  had  gone  to  bed.  Jim  went  to  town  to-day 
to  get  his  New  Year's  outfit,  so  we  did  the  farm  work.  I 
milked  Bonny  and  Devon,  the  two  nicest  cows,  and  Dr.  fed 
the  calves  and  lambs.  Col.  read  and  we  spent  a  pleasant 
evening.  Our  evenings  are  always  enjoyable,  when  we  are 
all  at  home.  We  are  learning  many  instructive  and  beautiful 
things  pertaining  to  life. 

MATTIES    LAST    LETTER. 

Sunnymead,  Ore.,  Oct.  10,  1893. 

Dear  Mother — We  are  all  so  glad  when  your  letters  come ! 

Victor's  eyes  get  big,  and  John  says,  "Hurrah  for  mamma 

and  the  big  fair,"  as  we  have  taught  him,  and  always  adds 

"Hurrah  for  Cogo ."     This  morning,  while   he  was  being 


13-i  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

dressed,  \"ictor  taught  him  a  new  word.  It  was  "Of  course."' 
So,  at  breakfast,  someone  said,  "Where  is  mamma?"  and  he 
said  "in  Cogo,  of  course."  You  would  be  surprised  to  hear 
him  talk.  Victor  says  "It  is  'stonishing."  We  all  talk  of 
you,  especially  at  the  table,  and  keep  a  bouquet  of  choice 
flowers  at  your  place,  and  of  course  the  children  think  that 
is  fine.  They  smell  them  every  time,  and  when  they  fade 
they  pop  the  leaves  and  have  lots  of  fun.  Then  we  put 
fresh  ones  on. 

Colonel  received  a  letter  from  George  last  night,  written  on 
September  30.  He  said  that  he  and  Hattie's  brother  had 
bought  a  farm  the  day  before — 140  acres — at  $20  per  acre; 
did  not  say  what  kind  of  a  farm  it  was,  but  that  it  was  six 
miles  arid  a  half  from  town,  and  the  cheapest  farm  in  the 
county.  Colonel  answered  the  letter  this  morning.  Colonel 
told  you  that  we  are  sending  nineteen  rolls  of  butter  to  town, 
but  there  are  twenty — all  made  within  ten  days — and  fifteen 
and  a  half  pounds  was  churned  this  morning  from  cream 
since  Saturday.     It  is  beautiful,  sweet  butter. 

You  must  see  the  lovely  butter  in  the  Dairy  Building ;  and 
don't  fail  to  see  the  "Great  White  Horse  Inn."  It  is 
near  the  Stock  Pavilion.  You  will  wish  to  see  it,  as  it  is  a 
fac-simile  of  the  inn  made  famous  by  Dickens'  "Pickwick 
Papers."  Also  the  Big  Tree  Restaurant,  with  a  tree  for  a 
counter,  or  long  table,  through  the  center.  It  is  in  the  south- 
ern part  of  the  grounds ;  I  can't  give  its  exact  location.  The 
tree,  I  think,  is  from  Washington. 

The  clifif  dwellers  is  a  very  interesting  place.  The  Blook- 
er  cocoa  house  is  not  far  ofif.  See  the  hairy  elephant  in  the 
Geological  Building ;  also  mound  builders'  relics,  etc.  Pew- 
ter plate,  from  A/Iayflower,  in  Ohio  exhibit,  in  the  same 
building.    Must  close.    With  love, 

Mattie. 

The  following  is  from  "The  Oregon  White  Ribboner,"  in 
which  it  appeared  at  the  time : 


SoMic  ()!■    IIi:k   I, III-:   lv\i'i':i<ii'.x('ii.s.  I.'j.") 

IN    MICMOKIAM. 

.  My  adopted  daut^litcr,  M attic  l>.  I 'aimer,  died  at  our 
home,  Sunnymcad,  near  Astoria,  at  one  o'clock,  on  the  morn- 
ing of  October  Ki,  Ihji)-").  Her  death  was  unexpected,  after 
a  very  l)rief  iUness,  and  was  a  j:^rievous  allliction  to  our 
home  circle.  Her  loss  will  be  sorely  felt  by  a  larjj^e  number 
of  warm  friends  in  both  Washin.i^lon  and  California,  as 
well  as  in  Oregon. 

Miss  Palmer  was  a  self-sacrificing,  earnest  worker  for 
good  all  her  life,  and  she  especially  gave  much  time  to  work 
with  the  Yo.ung  Women's  Christian  Temperance  Unions 
of  Portland  and  Astoria. 

In  both  these  cities  she  endeared  herself  to  many  of  their 
most  worthy  people  by  her  cheerful  readiness  at  all  times 
to  do  real  Christian  work.  Many  a  poor  sufferer  in  the 
hospitals  of  those  cities  has  been  cheered  by  her  visits. 

She  was  born  in  Indiana,  September  23,  18G1.  Her 
parents  removed  from  Indiana  to  Oregon  in  1863,  and  set- 
tled near  Fort  Vancouver.  While  Mattie  was  yet  a  little  girl 
her  mother  was  brought  to  my  house,  an  invalid,  for  treat- 
ment, where  she  remained  till  her  death,  and,  becoming  at- 
tached to  me,  she  asked  me  to  take  one  of  her  three  little 
daughters.  Mr.  Palmer  soon  after  gave  me  Mattie,  and  she 
proved  as  loving  and  faithful  as  my  own  child  could  have 
done  from  that  time  .to  her  death.  She  leaves  a  brother 
and   two   sisters   living. 

It  gave  me  great  pleasure  to  educate  and  do  for  her. 
vShe  obtained  a  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine  from  the 
Willamette  University,  of  Oregon,  having  graduated  in  the 
class  of  1886.  She  was  so  fond  of  home  tliatshe  was 
never  willing  to  leave  us  to  take  up  the  practice  of  medicine 
for  herself.  Indeed,  she  was  such  a  home-body  that  we 
were  hardly  able  to  persuade  her  to  visit  the  Columbian  Ex- 
position in  June  last,  and  even  up  to  within  a  few  days  of 
her  starting  she  would  say :  "\\''ell,  I  am  not  gone  yet,  and 


136  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

I  am  not  sure  but  I  will  give  up  the  trip  at  last."  She  was 
in  tears  most  of  the  day  before  leaving  us  for  Chicago. 
She  was  absent  six  weeks,  her  very  longest  visit  from  home, 
going  East  with  my  son  and  his  wife,  and,  with  them,  had 
an  opportunity  of  visiting  her  native  state.  She  devoted 
one  month  to  the  great  fair,  and  was  full  of  the  wonders  of 
the  beautiful  exposition,  declaring  frequently  that  she  could 
not  have  learned  so  much  of  the  world  in  years  of  travel. 

Early  in  life  Miss  Palmer  united  with  the  First  Congrega- 
tional Church  of  Portland,  and  remained  a  consistent  Chris- 
tian throughout  her  life.  She  was  a  member  and  active 
worker  in  the  Young  People's  Christian  Endeavor,  as  well 
as  in  the  W.  C.  T.  U. 

She  had  a  fine  mind,  a  most  honest  and  loving  nature. 
Her  disposition  was  so  pleasant  and  sunny  that  her  pres- 
ence in  our  home  was  always  most  agreeable,  and  her  loss 
can  only  be  obviated  by  the  years  that  must  come  and  go. 
We  miss  her  every  day  and  hour,  and  can  hardly  reconcile 
ourselves  to  believe  that  she  will  never  again  occupy  her 
vacant  chair. 

Dr.  Palmer  was  a  great  and  exceedingly  good  reader.  I 
mean  that  she  read  only  choice  matter,  and  read  it  well,  and 
having  a  most  excellent  memory,  she  was  good  authority 
on  almost  any  subject.  Appreciating  her  abilities,  we  antici- 
pated especial  pleasure  to  be  derived  from  her  visit  to  the 
great  White  City.  But  the  ways  of  God  are  not  our  ways, 
and  He  has  taken  our  dear  girl  from  us  while  she  was  yet 
in  the  prime  and  vigor  of  her  young  life.    His  will  be  done. 

We  have  received  many  letters  of  condolence  from  highly 
esteemed  friends,  who  knew  our  good  child  well,  both  pro- 
fessionally and  socially.  These  letters  contain  heartfelt  sym- 
pathy for  us,  and  well-deserved  tributes  of  friendship  to 
our  dear  girl.  I  will  only  quote  a  few  expressions  from 
those  who  had  especial  opportunities  for  knowing  Miss 
Palmer  intimately.  Mrs.  A.  R.  Riggs,  our  State  W.  C.  T.  U. 
President,  writes : 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  137 

"Dear  Friends — I  know  not  how  to  express  the  feehngs 
of  sadness  and  sorrow  which  at  first  overwhehncd  me  on 
hearing  of  the  death  of  dear  Doctor  Mattie  Palmer, — our 
Mattie,  as  we  so  often  called  her  when  she  was  so  closely 
associated  with  the  work  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  in  Portland, 
before  your  removal  to  Astoria.  It  was  in  this  work  that 
I  learned  so  much  of  the  value  of  her  really  fine  character, 
always  quiet  and  unassuming;  she  needed  to  be  well  known 
to  be  appreciated.  Truly,  this  world  has  lost  one  who  would 
have  done  much  to  lift  it  to  a  higher  and  better  plane.  Why 
she  should  have  been  called  when  she  was  approaching  a 
mature  and  well-rounded  womanhood,  we  cannot  tell;  only 
He  knoweth  who  is  able  to  heal  your  sorrow  and  fill  the  sad 
vacancy  in  your  hearts.  May  'He  who  woundeth  and  His 
hands  make  whole'  be  your  consolation  in  this,  your  hour  of 
trial." 

Mrs.  M.  E.  Hoxter,  of  Forest  Grove,  writes :  'T  know 
how  much  you  loved  and  trusted  her,  and  I  want  you  to 
feel  that  you  have  the  sympathy  of  Mr.  Hoxter  and  my- 
self." 

Mrs.  Dr.  G.  J.  Hill,  of  North  Yakima,  Wash.,  says :  "One 
great  comfort  to  us  all  is  that  we  know  dear  Mattie  was  a  true 
woman,  and  may  God  help  us  so  to  live  that  we  may  meet 
her  in  heaven." 

Mrs.  C.  O.  Hosford,  of  Mount  Tabor,  Ore.,  says :  "How 
sorry  we  are  that  we  could  not  have  been  with  you  in  your 
time  of  great  sorrow,  to  help  and  comfort  you." 

Mrs.  R.  B.  Brenham,  of  Portland,  writes :  "I  cannot  for- 
bear the  expression  of  my  sincere  sympathy  with  you  and 
your  husband  in  your  sad  bereavement.  It  teaches  the  sol- 
emn lesson  that  we,  too,  must  prepare  for  death." 

Ex-Governor  Chadwick,  of  Salem,  Ore.,  says :  "Mrs. 
Chadwick  and  I  feel  this  blow  very  seriously.  Poor  IMattie ; 
a  noble-hearted  woman,  always  so  kind  to  us,  we  can  never 
forget  her." 


138  Di{.  Owens  -  Adair. 

Hon.  Wm.  D.  English,  of  California,  writes :  "We  were 
all  terribly  shocked  to  hear  the  sad  news  of  IMattie's  death. 
You  and  your  g;ood  wife  must  feel  the  loss  very  keenly,  as 
it  came  so  unexpectedly  that  it  is  hard  to  realize  that  the 
vacant  chair  will  ever  be  without  its  occupant.  Mattie  was 
a  self-sacrificing",  truly  good  woman,  and  she  will  surely  meet 
her  reward  in  the  other  world.  All  my  family  join  in  heart- 
felt sympathy  for  you  and  yours." 

Miss  Jane  Weeden,  of  The  Temple,  Chicag-o,  writes :  "Is 
it  possible  that  our  Mattie  Palmer  has  gone  across  the  river 
whose  thick  mists  veil  the  eye  from  the  other  shore?  If 
so,  I  am  sure  she  has  gone  to  a  better  world  than  this, 
but  this  world  sadly  needs  her,  and  thousands  more  like  her. 
I  had  a  great  esteem  and  love  for  Mattie.  She  was  a  thor- 
oughgoing, conscientious  woman,  and,  like  Julia  Ames,  in 
another  department  of  the  world's  work,  she  gave  great 
promise  of  future  usefulness.  It  is  well  with  her,  and  we 
must  still  face  the  battle  of  life." 

Mrs.  Owens-Adair,  • 
Astoria,   Oregon. 

A  TOUCHING  LETTER.' 

North  Yakima,  Wash.,  Jan.  25,  1904. 
To  the  Editor : 

In  looking  over  my  old  letters  I  find  the  following  from 
the  late  H.  S.  Lyman,  which  comes  like  a  message  sent 
back  from  the  heavenly  half  of  the  circle  to  those  whom 
he,  too,  has  so  lately  left  behind.  Some  of  the  thoughts 
are  so  fine  that  I  herewith  submit  a  copy  forwarding 
the  original  to  his  sisters)  to  your  judgment  as  to  whether 
it  should  or  should  not  be  given  to  the  public. 

The  Miss  Palmer,  of  whom  he  speaks,  was  given  to  me 
when  a  child,  by  her  dying  mother,  and  she  received  from 
me  the  careful  training  and  edvication  of  a  daughter,  which 
she  returned  with  true  filial  love  and  faithful  devotion.  .She 
was  all  that  Mr.  Lyman  says  of  her,  and  her  death  was, 
indeed,  a  grievous  loss  to  me,  and  our  home. 


Some  of  Her  Lh'e  Exi'Kkiences.  139 

(The  r.ctu-r.) 

Astoria,    iVovcmbcr   i,   LS'.t:;. 
Col.  John  Adair  and  Dr.  Owens-Adair: 

Dear  Friends — The  sadness  I  felt,  as  1  learned  the  even- 
ing after  her  burial,  of  the  death  of  Miss  Palmer,  has 
made  me  wish  to  say  something  comforting,  if  I  could, 
to  you.  Your  sense  of  loss — your  actual  loss — of  her  out 
of  your  home  and  your  work,  and  your  plans  for  your 
family  and  the  community,  you  will  not  get  over,  and 
would  not  wish  to.  The  place  of  an  one  we  have  really 
loved  is  never  taken,  and  never  filled.  Perhaps  it  is  a 
comfort  that  it  is  so.  It  may  be  that  the  place  we  have 
in  our  hearts  for  such  is  like  the  place  s(|oken  of  by  Jesus, — 
one  of  the  places  prepared,  so  that  when  things  are  made 
up  again,  and  each  returns  to  his  own,  they  will  find  the 
same  place  in  our  affections  and  the  same  part  in  our 
lives. 

Certainly,  though  we  part,  none  of  us,  either  those  that 
go  or  those  that  remain,  are  outside  of  God's  providence. 

'T  know  not  where  His  islands   lift 

Their  fronded  palms  in  air ; 
I  only  know  I  cannot  drift 

Beyond  His  love  and  care." 

So  our  mourning"  is  not  without  hope,  and  the  hope  is 
the  main  thing  for  us. 

As  for  her, — one  who  in  this  world  was  fitted  to  serve, 
and  do  good. — and  who  found  her  life  in  making  things 
better  and  brighter,  will  not  be  left  without  happy  ministry 
anywhere.  God,  who  found  her  her  place  here,  will  find 
it  for  her  there. 

It  is  with  you.  as  with  the  rest  of  us.  half  our  life  on 
this  side,  and  half  on  that.  Our  circle — even  our  family 
circle — not  complete  except  as  it  takes  in  a  part  of  heaven. — 
half  here,  and  half  there,  out  of  sight,  but  all  in  God. 

I   am   wanting  to  see  you,  but  accept   this   until   I   can. 

Very  sincerely  yours,  H.  S.  Lymax. 


140  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

SKETCH    OF  SARAH  DAMRON  OWENS,   PIONEER  OF  1843. 

Mrs.  Owens  was  born  in  Kentucky,  January  8,  1818. 
She  was  the  first  (laughter  of  Moses  and  Jennie  Damron. 
Her  father  was  of  pure  English  blood,  and  emigrated 
from  England  with  two  brothers,  Lazarus  and  Richard,  and 
settled  on  the  Big  Sandy  River.  Mr.  Damron  was  a  great 
Indian  fighter,  and  was  employed  by  the  Government  as  a 
scout  and  spy  during  the  war  with  the  Shawnees  and  Dela- 
wares.  He  performed  notable  deeds  of  daring  and  brav- 
ery, which  were  recognized  by  the  Government.  Among 
them,  and  worthy  of  record,  was  that  of  rescuing  a  woman 
and  five  children.  The  Shawnees  had  scalped  her  husband 
and  carried  oflf  herself  and  six  children.  The  Indians  soon 
tired  of  the  babe,  and  tearing  it  from  its  mother's  arms, 
beat  it  to  death  against  a  tree  and  hushed  the  mother's 
screams  by  rubbing  her  face  with  her  husband's  scalp ! 

Mr.  Damron  volunteered  to  go  in  pursuit  of  these  In- 
dians, and,  with  eleven  men,  he  followed  thirty  miles,  com- 
ing up  with  them  just  after  dark.  There  were  twenty 
warriors.  The  leader  was  standing  before  the  fire.  When 
the  men  saw  the  twenty  warriors,  ten  of  them  turned  and 
fled.  Mr.  Damron,  nothing  daunted,  instantly  shot  the  lead- 
ing savage,  who  fell  into  the  fire.  Damron  gave  the  war- 
whoop  to  charge,  and  the  Indians,  thinking  an  army  was 
upon  them,  fled.  Mr.  Damron  and  his  one  faithful  com- 
rade rushed  in  and  rescued  the  woman  and  children  and 
carried  them  across  a  mountain  and  returned  to  the  trail, 
well  knowing  that  the  Indians  would  soon  be  on  his  track. 
He  secreted  himself  under  an  old  stump  having  an  over- 
growth.    Soon  two  Indian  scouts  came  along,  striking  their 


My  Only  Beloved  Granddaughter 

Vera  Owens  Hill 

Great  Granddaughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  Owens 


SoMK  OF  Her  Liki-:  Experiences.  141 

flints  and  lighting  their  punks.  They  stopped  close  by  the 
stump,  so  near  that  Damron  might  have  touched  them 
with  his  hand.  He  often  said  that  he  thought  then  the 
scouts  might  have  heard  his  heart  beats. 

They  did  discover  the  tracks  of  the  retreating  white  men, 
and  on  they  rushed,  whistling  to  their  comrades  to  follow. 
As  soon  as  they  passed  Mr.  Damron  lost  no  time  in  re- 
turning to  his  charge,  and,  with  his  comrade,  took  the  wo- 
man and  children  to  a  settlement  in  another  direction. 

For  this  feat  of  bravery  our  Government  presented  Mr. 
Damron  with  a  splendid  rifle,  richly  mounted  with  silver, 
and  valued  in  those  days  at  $200.  Mr.  Damron  also  killed 
the  noted  Indian  terror.  Big  Foot,  shooting  him  in  a  pass 
of  the  Cumberland  Mountains. 

During  those  dreadful  times  of  Indian  wars  Mr.  Damron, 
in  1812,  married  Miss  Jennie  Mullins.  To  them  were  born 
six  children, — Moses,  Sarah,  Louisa,  Elizabeth,  William 
and  Solomon. 

In  1826  they  moved  to  Illinois,  where  they  lived  two  years, 
but,  not  being  satisfied  there,  Mr.  Damron  started  to  re- 
turn to  their  old  home  in  Kentucky.  They  reached  Posey 
County,  Illinois,  on  the  Ohio  River,  where  they  stopped 
to  rest.  Here  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Damron  were  attacked  by 
what  was  then  known  as  the  "milk  sickness,"  and  within  six 
days  they  were  both  dead  and  buried.  During  their  illness 
the  father  called  the  eldest  son  and  daughter,  Moses  and 
Sarah  (the  object  of  this  sketch),  twelve  and  ten  years 
old,  and  told  them  many  times,  describing  in  the  minutest 
detail  every  turn  and  cross-road  on  their  long  journey  home. 
He  marked  out  their  whole  route,  and  made  them  prom- 
ise that  they  would  continue  steadily  on  till  they  reached 
their  relatives  in  Kentucky.  In  those  days  children  without 
parents  were  often  "bound  out."  To  provide  against  this, 
Mr,  Damron  called  in  his  Masonic  brethren  and  exacted 
a  pledge   from  them  that  they  would   see   to   it   that   his 


143  De.  Owens  -  Adair. 

children  should  not  be  "bound  out."  He  then  made  all 
arrangements  for  their  journey.  After  the  burial  of  their 
parents  these  six  children  started  on  their  sad  journey 
in  a  light,  one-horse  wagon,  or  carriage.  They  reached 
home  in  one  month,  including  all  stops,  never  once  losing 
their  wa}-  or  "having  to  retrace  their  steps,  so  well  had  the 
wise  father  impressed  his  own  accurate  knowledge  vipon 
the  minds  of  his  young  son  and  daughter,  but,  sad  to 
say,  this  trip  was  the  means  of  rendering  this  twelve-year- 
old  lad  a  cripple  for  life.  While  ascending  steep  hills  he 
often  had  to  put  his  foot  under  the  wagon  wheel  to  keep 
it  from  sliding  and  thereby  bruised  his  foot  and  ankle, 
which  brought  on  a  disease  of  the  joint,  making  him  a 
cripple,  and  finall}^  causing  his  death. 

The  children  were  overwhelmed  with  kindness  through- 
out their  trip.  One  night  they  stopped  at  the  house  of  an 
old  bachelor,  who,  upon  reading  their  letter  from  the  Masons, 
made  up  his  mind  to  adopt  the  children.  He  kept  them  for 
nearly  a  week.  He  seems  to  have  been  a  good,  but  very 
eccentric,  person,  for  he  had  provided  himself  with  a  coffin, 
in  which  he  kept  his  jug  of  whisky.  The  sight  of  the  coffin 
thoroughly  frightened  them,  especially  Sarah,  who  ran, 
screaming,   down   the   stairs. 

The  old  man  was  very  kind  to  the  children,  and  loaded 
them  with  good  things  to  eat.  One  day  he  went  to  town^ 
leaving  them  with  an  old  negro  and  his  wife,  telling  the 
children  he  would  not  be  gone  long.  As  soon  as  he  was 
out  of  sight  the  children  hitched  up  their  horse  and  slipped 
away,  the  old  colored  people  pretending  not  to  notice  them. 
They  traveled  with  all  haste,  for  fear  the  old  man  would 
follow  them,  but  they  never  saw  him  again.  Sarah  and 
Eliza  had  the  ague,  and  shook  every  other  day.  After  sev- 
eral days'  traveling  they  came  to  the  Widow  Hopkins', 
a  wealthy  woman,  who  was  known  far  and  wide.  She 
kindly  took  them  in  and  cured  the  girl's  ague. 


Some  of  Her  I.ikk  Experiences.  143 

Widow  llopkins  lirid  ;i  Iar,i;c'  plantation  and  a  hundrt'd 
slaves.  1  Icr  two  widowed  dau^lilers  lived  with  her.  The 
hearts  of  these  wealthy  and  }^^f)od  women  were  warmed 
toward  these  orphaned  children,  and  they  bej^j^ed  them  to  stay 
with  them,  offcrinL;-  to  raise  and  educate  them.  J>ut  Moses, 
that  honest  and  faithful  boy,  said  :  "No,  I  promised  father 
on  his  deathbed  that  I  would  take  the  children  home  to  our 
people,  and  1  must  ol)ey." 

After  they  reached  home  they  were  divided  among  their 
relatives.  Sarah  went  to  live  with  her  maternal  grand- 
mother, then  eighty  years  of  age. 

After  her  grandmother's  death  Sarah  went  to  live  with 
an  uncle  and  aunt,  who  were  very  kind  to  her  and  taught 
her  to  spin  and  weave  and  do  all  kinds  of  work.  Her 
only  sorrow  was  her  separation  from  her  brothers  and 
sisters.  The  nearest  was  thirty  miles  away.  When  she 
would  get  homesick  to  see  them  her  aunt  would  tell  her 
to  visit  them.  Then  she  would  take  her  shoes  and  stock- 
ings and  a  change  of  clothing  in  a  handkerchief  and  start 
early  in  the  morning.  She  would  walk  and  run  thirty  miles, 
easily,  in  one  day,  wading  a  creek  called  Shelby  thirty  times. 

I  have  often  heard  mother  say  that  when  she  started  on 
these  trips  she  felt  as  if  she  could  fly,  and  she  did  run  for 
miles  at  a  time. 

Thus  passed  her  young  life  until  she  reached  the  age  of 
sixteen,  when  she  met  and  married  a  i\Ir.  Thomas  Owens, 
then  sheriff  of  Pike  County,  Kentucky.  J\lr.  Owens  was 
the  son  of  a  wealthy  planter,  and  was  a  tall,  handsome,  ath- 
letic young  man,  and  for  six  years  had  been  sheriflf  of 
his  county.  ,  He  knew  neither  danger  nor  fear.  They  set- 
tled on  a  farm  on  the  forks  of  Big  Sandy,  about  seven 
miles  from  Piketon.  Here  their  first  child  was  born,  who 
survived  but  a  few  weeks.  Also  their  first  daughter  was 
born  here.  After  two  Aears  they  emigrated  to  Missouri. 
For  this  trip  my   father,   Mr.   Owens,  built  a  flat-boat,  in 


14-i  De.  Owens  -  Adair. 

which  he  moved  his  family  and  effects  down  the  Big  Sandy 
to  the  Ohio,  and  up  the  Ohio  to  Cincinnati,  where  he  sold 
his  boat  and  traveled  by  steamer  to  Van  Buren  County, 
Ivlissouri,  where  their  second  daughter,  Bethenia  (the  writ- 
er), was  born,  February  8,  1840.  My  father  built  a  log 
cabin,  and  made  rails  and  fenced  in  some  land,  and  the  fol- 
lowing spring  he  bought  five  yoke  of  oxen  and  broke  twenty 
acres  and  planted  it  in  corn.  He  fixed  a  little  chair  on  the 
plow,  in  which  the  oldest  child,  the  late  Mrs.  John  Hobson 
(mother  of  Mrs.  Ada  Fulton,  wife  of  Hon.  C.  W.  Fulton, 
the  present  United  States  Senator  from  Oregon),  would 
ride,  while  mother,  with  her  baby  (myself)  in  her  arms, 
walked  behind  and  dropped  the  corn,  which  was  covered 
up  by  the  next  furrow.  The  corn  was  planted  in  every 
third  furrow,  and  this  planting  produced  a  fine  crop  with- 
out any  further  attention. 

Father  and  mother  lived  here  only  about  a  year  and  a  half 
and  then  moved  to  "Platte  Purchase,"  Missouri.  •  This  move 
was  due  to  the  continuous  affliction  with  the  ague.  On 
February  22,  1842,  a  son  was  born, — the  late  Hon.  W.  F. 
Owens,  of  Douglas  County,  Oregon.  In  the  spring  of 
1843  my  parents  moved  to  Independence,  Mo.,  and  there 
joined  the  emigration  of  that  year  for  Oregon. 

MY  mother's  story. 

The  first  day  everything  went  along  finely,  and  for  sev- 
eral days  thereafter.  Our  wagons  were  loaded  with  pro- 
visions, and  everybody  was  happy  until  we  came  to  a  creek 
called  the  "Blues."  Here  we  camped,  and  about  midnight 
a  fearful  wind-storm  blew  down  our  tents,  and  the  rain 
fell  on  us  in  torrents.  The  next  morning  we  found  that 
about  half  our  cornmeal  was  wet.     Then  my  husband  said 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  145 

to  the  company :  "At  least  half  our  meal  is  wet,  and  unless  it 
is  converted  into  bread  it  will  be  lost,  and  my  advice  is  that 
we  make  fires  and  at  once  make  it  all  into  bread."  This  ad- 
vice was,  unfortunately,  followed  only  by  myself  and  a  few 
other  women.  Thousands  of  pounds  of  meal  were  left  by 
the  roadside.  Had  Mr.  Owens'  advice  been  taken  anrl  econ- 
omy practiced  as  it  should  have  been  no  person  in  that  emi- 
gration need  to  have  suffered  from  lack  of  food. 

That  day  was  principally  devoted  to  getting  dried  out, 
ready  for  a  new  start.  From  here  we  moved  on  without 
special  occurrence  till  we  reached  the  Platte  River,  where 
we  camped,  while  the  men  found  a  good  ford  which  seemed 
to  be  about  a  mile  across.  Then  the  wagon-beds  were 
raised  about  six  or  eight  inches,  and  from  forty  to  fifty 
wagons  and  teams  were  fastened  together  with  long  chains. 
Horses  were  attached  to  the  first  wagon  and  oxen  in  the 
rear.  The  men  went  ahead  on  horseback  with  ropes  tied 
to  the  front  team.  Upon  reaching  the  other  shore  the 
men  would  pull  in  the  ropes,  in  this  way  keeping  the  front 
team  in  the  right  course,  while  each  man  sat  in  his  wagon 
and  directed  his  own  team. 

In  that  way  we  all  crossed  in  safety.  Thus  we  jour- 
neyed until  we  came  to  Sweetwater,  in  the  buffalo  country, 
where  Mr.  Owens  was  made  Captain  of  the  hunters.  I  then 
took  charge  of  the  oxen  and  drove  them  throughout  the 
buffalo  section.  While  the  hunters  were  killing  game  other 
men  with  pack-horses  were  sent  out  to  bring  in  the  meat. 
As  soon  as  it  reached  us  the  women  set  to  work  cutting 
it  in  thin  slices  and  stringing  it  on  ropes,  which  were 
fastened  to  the  bottoms  of  the  wagon-beds.  Within  three 
days  this  meat  would  be  well  cured  and  ready  to  pack  away 
in  sacks. 

This  was  a  jolly  train.  We  had  music,  singing  and  dancing 
nearly  every  night.  In  the  evening,  while  the  men  were  at- 
tending to  the  cattle  and  horses,  their  wives  and  daughters 


146  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

would  be  carrying-  buffalo  '"chips"  in  their  aprons,  mak- 
ing fires  and  preparing  supper,  which  was  eaten  and  rel- 
ished with  appetites  that  only  out-of-door  life  can  give. 

During  all  this  time  we  never  saw  an  Indian  to  annoy 
or  molest  us.  and  not  until  we  reached  Independence  Rock, 
where  Dr.  Whitman  met  us,  and  we  got  our  first  scare. 
Our  hunters  here  saw  a  band  of  Indians,  and  notified  the 
train.  This  brought  the  only  non-social  member  of-  our 
company  into  close  relations.  This  Englishman,  by  name 
Eyers,  was  a  very  unsocial  and  disagreeable  man.  He 
usually  camped  a  quarter  of  a  mile  away  from  the  company, 
but  the  Indian  scare  brought  him  into  line.  After  this 
guards  were  stationed  every  night. 

Dr.  Whitman  traveled  with  us  until  the  Blue  Moun- 
tains were  reached,  and  then  went  ahead  and  blazed  out 
our  route. 

We  proceeded  on  till  we  reached  Chimney  Rock  (Three 
Rocks),  where  we  camped  and  sent  out  the  hunters.  They 
found  the  buffalo  very  wild. 

There  our  first  serious  accident  occurred.  While  the 
hunters  were  approaching  the  buffalo  through  the  tall  grass, 
a  gun  in  the  hands  of  one  of  them  was  discharg-ed  and  shot 
a  Mr.  Goodman  through  the  hand,  which  crippled  him  for 
life.  The  hunters  were  successful,  and  coming  in  with 
their  game,  we  proceeded  on  our  journey. 

The  next  evening,  after  camping,  we  had  quite  a  scare 
from  a  band  of  at  least  five  hundred  buffalo  that  were  ap- 
parently coming  down  on  us ;  but  fortunately  they  were 
swerved  from  their  course  sufficiently  to  pass  us,  while  had 
they  contin'aed  straight  on  we  would  have  been  trampled  to 
death. 

The  next  crossing  of  the  Platte  we  found  very  deep  and 
swift,  detaining  us  three  days,  preparing  to  cross  this  turbu- 
lent stream.  To  do  this  we  tacked  buffalo  hides  on  the  bot- 
toms of  several  of  the  wagon-beds.     In  these  novel  boats 


SoMic  (>!■    lli.K   Liii':   l'",xi'i-;i<iKNC'ES.  147 

was  [jlaccd  our  portable  jj^oods,  roj)cs  were  then  fastened 
to  them,  and  good  swimmers  carried  them  over  and  jnilled 
the  boats  across,  while  other  men  swam  alongside  to  steady 
them  and  keep  them  from  upsetting.  In  this  way  our  goods 
and  families  were  all  safely  landed  on  the  other  side.  The 
wagons  were  then  taken  apart,  and  ferried  over  in  the  same 
way,  after  which  the  stock  was  driven  in  and  made  to  swim 
across.  It  required  two  days  after  this  to  prepare  for  our 
onward  inarch.  From  this  to  Fort  Hall  we  subsisted  prin- 
cipally on  antelope  meat  and  small  game,  the  buffalo  having 
become  very  scarce. 

At  Fort  Hall  those  of  the  company  who  had  become  al- 
most destitute  of  provisions  procured  some,  and  here  Mr. 
Owens  sold  his  buffalo  gun  for  $50. 

A  few  days  after  leaving  Fort  Hall  we  had  another 
"scare"  when  some  fifty  or  sixty  warriors  of  the  Osage 
tribe  came  in  sight.  We  stopped  at  once  and  prepared  for 
battle,  making  a  square  enclosure  with  the  wagons  by  plac- 
ing the  tongue  of  each  wagon  on  the  back  of  the  one  next 
to  it.  In  this  corral  the  stock  was  placed.  Fortunately  the 
Indians  did  not  molest  us. 

When  we  reached  the  sage-brush  country  our  Captain, 
Mr.  Jesse  Applegate,  divided  us  into  platoons  of  four 
wagons  each,  in  order  that  each  platoon  might  take  turns 
for  one  day  in  the  lead,  breaking  a  road  through  the  high 
sage  brush.  It  would  have  been  impossible  to  have  pro- 
ceeded otherwise,  as  the  sage  brush  w^as  from  two  to  six 
feet  high.  After  passing  through  this  section  we  reached 
Snake  River  and  found  a  ford,  which  we  all  crossed  safely, 
except  Mr.  Eyers.  Our  w^agons  were  hitched  together  and 
a  rpan  went  ahead  with  ropes  to  guide  the  foremost  team. 
Mr.  Eyers'  family  were  afraid  to  cross  with  him  and  begged 
to  go  with  the  company,  and  so  were  landed  in  safety.  ^Mr. 
Eyers  would  not  heed  the  protestations  of  the  company,  but 
persisted  in  driving  his  fine  mule  team  in  by  himself.     The 


148  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

miiles  soon  became  unmanageable,  turned  down  stream,  and 
soon  Mr.  Eyers  disappeared  from  sight — lost  his  life  and 
everything  he  had.  The  company  brought  his  family 
through. 

Coming  to  the  Powder  River,  our  troubles  began  in 
earnest,  for,  owing  to  carelessness  and  wastefulness  by  many 
in  the  company,  starvation  began  to  stare  them  in  the  face. 
Captain  Nesmith,  with  a  part  of  the  company,  were  a  few 
days  in  advance.  We  found  many  dead  and  disabled  cat- 
tle along  the  road,  which  were  used  for  food  by  those  who 
were  in  need.  Thus  we  proceeded  to  Salmon  River,  where 
we  bought  some  dried  salmon  and  dried  berries  from  the 
Indians.  In  the  Snake  River  country  we  met  the  old  moun- 
taineer, "Peg-Leg"  Smith,  and  did  considerable  trading 
with  him  and  his  squaws,  who  were  very  friendly  and  repre- 
sented quite  a  tribe. 

From  here  we  went  on  to  the  Blue  Mountains,  where  Dr. 
Whitman  left  us,  proceeding  homeward  to  send  us  pro- 
visions. We  toiled  on  till  we  reached  and  passed  the  sum- 
mit of  the  Blue  Mountains.  One  night  we  were  overjoyed 
to  receive  supplies  of  wheat,  corn  and  peas  from  Dr.  Whit- 
man, Then  the  parching  of  wheat  and  corn  and  the  grind- 
ing of  coffee  mills  made  sweet  music  to  our  ears,  bring- 
ing encouragement  and  happiness  to  us  all.  In  the  midst 
of  this  pleasure  and  feasting  I  was  called  to  the  bedside 
of  Mrs.  Ollinger,  and  soon  was  ushered  into  the  world  a 
girl  baby, — the  first  child  born  to  the  emigration  of  1843. 

(The  writer  is  disposed  to  add  that  eight  years  ago  she 
met  a  tall,  handsome  lady  of  education,  who  said:  "Doctor, 
are  you  any  relation  to  Mrs.  Thomas  Owens,  of  the  emi- 
gration of  1843  ?"  "Yes,  I  am  her  second  daughter, — the 
eldest  now  living."  Then  the  lady  said:  "I  would  rather 
see  your  mother  than  any  woman  on  earth,  for  she  attended 
my  mother  at  my  birth,  on  the  Blue  Mountains."  This  lady's 
name  is  unfortunately  forgotten.) 


Some  of  IIek  Life  Experiences,  149 

In  the  morning  the  mother  and  baby  were  placed  in  the 
wagon,  and  all  proceeded  merrily  on  the  road  that  was 
being  blazed  and  cut  out  by  the  young  men  who  preceded 
our  wagons. 

We  soon  reached  the  Grand  Ronde  Valley,  but  before 
reaching  it  we  had  to  descend  a  long  and  very  steep  hill. 
Here  trees  were  secured  to  the  back  end  of  the  wagons,  then 
the  wheels  were  securely  locked  to  prevent  injuring  the 
horses  and  oxen.  In  this  way  every  wagon  was  safely 
landed  in  the  valley  below.  Mr.  Owens  drove  almost  every 
wagon  from  the  top  to  the  valley.  There  we  camped  by 
a  beautiful  stream  of  water,  with  plenty  of  luxurious  grass 
for  the  stock. 

The  next  day  we  reached  Dr.  Whitman's,  where  we  rested 
for  three  weeks,  preparatory  to  embarking  in  canoes  for 
Vancouver.  We  left  our  stock  and  wagons  with  Dr.  Whit- 
man. We  bought  canoes  and  took  one  Indian  guide.  When 
we  came  to  the  impassable  portions  of  the  river,  the  women 
and  children  would  leave  the  canoes  and  walk  around  on 
the  river  bank  while  the  men  and  Indians  took  the  canoes 
safely  through  the  rapids.  A  few  days  after  embarking 
Mr.  Applegate,  his  son  and  hired  man,  with  several  other 
men  in  the  boat,  ran  against  a  rock  and  upset  the  boat.  Mr. 
Applegate's  son  and  one  hired  man  were  drowned. 

Several  days  later  our  next  accident  occurred.  A  Mr. 
Sterman  and  family  were  in  their  own  boat,  which  upset, 
and  their  son  was  drowned. 

We  had  many  amusing  incidents  as  well  as  sad  ones  on 
our  way  down  the  river.  One  might  be  mentioned  to  prove 
that  human  nature  is  much  the  same  the  world  over.  We 
had  been  out  of  salt  for  some  time.  Mr.  Owens  had  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  a  little  sack  for  which  he  paid  fifty 
cents.  It  was  our  custom  to  build  one  large  fire  sufficient 
to  accommodate  all  of  our  now  reduced  company.  We 
were  all  seated  about  the  fire  near  the  river  bank,  eating  our 


150  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

supper.  There  was  one  couple  who  never  seemed  to  tire 
of  quarrehng,  especially  at  meal  time.  The  little  sack  of 
salt  had  been  passed  around,  that  each  might  be  helped, 
when,  as  usual,  the  surly  couple  began  their  exhibition.  The 
wife,  becoming  enraged,  threw  her  cup  of  cofifee  at  her  hus- 
band ;  he  retaliated  by  slinging  the  sack  of  salt  at  her  head. 
She  dodged  it,  and  the  sack  went  into  the  river.  Mr.  Owens, 
seeing  the  precious  salt  disappear,  sprang  to  his  feet  and 
exclaimed:  "Now,  sir,  you  dive  in  there  and  get  that  salt, 
or  I  will  pitch  you  in  after  it!"  Without  a  moment's  hesita- 
tion the  man  dived  in  over  his  head  and  brought  the  salt 
out  so  quickly  that  it  hardly  had  time  to  get  wet. 

That  chastisement  seemed  to  have  a  good  effect,  for  we 
had  no  more  exhibitions  from  this  source. 

We  continued  on  down  the  river  without  further  misfor- 
tune until  we  reached  Fort  Vancouver,  where  Mr.  Good- 
man's boy  died.  We  here  met  Dr.  McLoughlin,  who  was 
a  friend  to  the  emigrants.  We  remained  at  Vancouver 
three  weeks,  while  Messrs.  Owens,  Hobson,  Simmons  and 
Holly,  procuring  a  boat  from  Dr.  McLoughlin,  went  down 
to  Astoria,  and  on  to  Clatsop,  where  Mr.  Owens  took  up 
a  land  claim.  They  then  returned  to  Vancouver,  and  Dr. 
McLoughlin  furnished  my  husband  with  provisions  and 
seed,  and  we  then  proceeded  to  Astoria,  where  we  landed 
safely  on  Christmas  day,  1843. 

The  next  day  we  crossed  the  bay  to  Clatsop,  landing  at 
"Tansy  Point,"  now  "Flavel."  Here  we  were  met  by  Rev. 
D.  L.  Parish,  and  Messrs.  Trask  and  Perry.  These  were 
the  only  three  men  who  had  white  wives  then  living  on  Clat- 
sop, Dr.-  Solomon  Smith  and  Mr.  Tibbets  having  native 
waves.  jMessrs  Trask  and  Perry  took  us  and  all  our  ef- 
fects in  a  wagon,  by  the  way  of  the  beach,  to  their  home, 
the  present  Taylor  farm. 

Mrs.  Trask  had,  only  a  few  days  before,  given  birth 
to  a  pair  of  twins. 


Some  oI'    IIi:k  I.iki:  JCxi'ickikxcks.  I.jI 

Here  we  remained  until  Mr.  Owens  built  a  lop  eabin  on 
his  elaim,  just  south  of  and  afljoininj:^  the  Trask  farm,  our 
houses  being  only  about  a  half  mile  ai)art.  We  moved 
into  our  Clatsop  home  in  the  midst  of  winter.  I  gathered 
dried  ferns  and  mixed  them  with  clay  to  chink  our  cabin. 
M!y  husband  drove  in  four  ])0sts  by  a  big  hole  left  in  one 
end  of  the  cabin  and  between  these  we  built  a  fireplace  and 
chimney  with  sods,  the  posts  acting  as  supports,  the  sod  part 
being  carried  above  the  roof.  The  roof  was  weighted  down 
with  poles,  which  were  tied  down  at  each  end  to  keep  the 
clapboards  in  place,  there  being  no  nails  in  those  days.  As 
soon  as  we  were  settled  Mr.  Owens  proceeded  to  make  rails 
averaging  two  hundred  per  day,  from  the  wild  forest.  Soon 
we  had  land  fenced  and  everything  far  ahead  for  a  spring 
crop.  Dr.  McLoughlin  exchanged  four  fat  steers  with  us 
for  lean  oxen,  at  Walla  Walla,  in  1843.  Then,  in  1844,  we 
sold  the  fat  steers  to  Dr.  McLoughlin  for  a  supply  of  pro- 
visions. My  husband  was  gone  over  a  month  getting  these 
provisions,  in  the  summer  of  1844.  When  our  husbands 
were  away  from  home  Mrs.  Perry  and  Mrs.  Trask  always 
insisted  that  I  should  stay  with  them,  as  they  were  too  timid 
to  be  alone.  One  night  we  were  awakened  by  scratchings. 
and  whisperings  at  the  door.  I  insisted  on  getting  up 
and  investigating.  Mrs.  Trask  and  ■Mrs.  Perry  protested, 
luitil  at  last  I  could  stand  it  no  longer,  and  opened  the 
door,  to  find  two  Indian  women,  who  begged  to  come  in. 
They  said  that  the  Indians  were  all  drunk  at  the  lodge,  and 
their  husbands  had  run  them  off.  I  let  them  in,  and  they 
laid  down  by  the  fire,  and  we  were  all  soon  asleep. 

I  think  the  most  unhappy  period  of  my  life  was  the  first 
year  spent  on  Clatsop,  simply  for  the  want  of  something 
to  do.  I  had  no  yarn  to  knit,  nothing  to  sew,  not  even  rags 
to  make  patches.  We  had  very  little  to  cook.  Salmon  and 
potatoes  were  our  principal  diet.  One  of  my  greatest  needs 
was  a  cloth  for  a  dish-rag.     One  dav   Mrs.   Parrish  gave 


152  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

me  a  sack  half  full  of  rags,  and  I  never  received  a  present 
before  nor  since  that  I  so  highly  appreciated  as  I  did  those 
rags.  There  were  quantities  of  berries,  and  during  berry 
time  Mrs.  Trask,  Mrs.  Perry  and  I  spent  much  time  in  gath- 
ering berries.  We  would  start  out  early,  taking  our  chil- 
dren, and  stay  all  day,  coming  home  loaded.  The  only 
way  we  had  of  preserving  these  berries  was  by  drying;  we 
seldom  had  sugar.  After  1845  cranberries  brought  from 
$10  to  $12  a  barrel  in  San  Francisco,  and  I  gathered  from 
ten  to  twelve  barrels  for  market  yearly  for  several  years. 

During  the  summer  of  1845,  my  husband  was  from  home 
most  of  the  time.  Messrs.  Owens,  Trask,  Perry,  Marlin 
and  Tibbets  were  building  a  grist  mill  on  the  Ohanna  creek, 
just  below  where  the  Astoria  and  Columbia  River  Railroad 
now  crosses  that  stream,  near  its  mouth.  That  was  the  first 
grist  mill  biult  in  Clatsop  county.  It  was  built  in  the  fall 
of  1845. 

An  Indian  called  Spuckem,  claiming  to  be  a  sub-chief, 
came  to  our  house  during  our  absence,  and,  climbing  down 
the  chimney,  robbed  us  of  nearly  everything  we  had.  The 
wheat  and  potatoes  stolen  were  to  have  been  returned  to 
.Dr.  McLoughlin  to  pay  for  those  he  had  loaned  us  when 
we  came  to  Clatsop.  Next  spring  this  same  Indian  came 
to  our  house,  with  two  young  women,  daughters  of  the 
head  men  of  the  tribe.  He  wanted  to  come  in  and  stay  all 
night.  I  told  him  he  could  not,  and  then  I  shut  and  bolted 
the  door.  Not  hearing  them  for  some  time,  I  supposed  they 
had  gone,  and  opened  the  door.  Soon  after  this,  Spuckem 
rushed  into  the  house,  seized  a  brand  of  the  fire,  and  started 
to  build  a  fire  in  some  shavings  against  a  pile  of  boards,  I 
told  him  if  he  burned  those  boards  I  would  tell  Owens. 

He  said,  in  a  jeering  way :  "Owens  is  a  'Kloochman'  " 
(meaning  he  is  only  a  woman). 

He  moved  his  fire,  however,  to  another  part  of  the  yard, 
and  helped  himself  to  our  woodpile.     He   then   sent   the 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  153 

women  to  ask  for  potatoes  and  salmon  (boiled),  and  they  ate 
their  supper.  They  then  made  their  bed  in  the  chimney- 
corner,  outside,  and,  after  carefully  putting-  out  their  fire, 
went  to  bed.  They  lay  talking  and  whispering  till  long  after 
midnight,  excepting  when  the  dogs  would  bark,  when  they 
would  be  very  quiet.  During  all  that  time  I  stood  guard 
with  the  rifle  and  shotgun,  not  knowing  what  naight  happen. 
The  two  younger  children  were  fast  asleep,  but  the  two 
eldest  were  much  too  frightened  to  sleep.  Just  before  day- 
light, the  Indians  took  up  their  effects,  and  quietly  slipped 
away.  The  next  morning  several  Indians  came  to  the  house 
tracking  the  runaways.  I  showed  them  where  they  had 
made  their  fire,  and  that  I  did  not  allow  them  to  stay  in  the 
house,  and  the  pursuing  party  went  on.  This  sort  of  be- 
havior made  the  young  sub-chief  very  unpopular.  Soon 
after  this,  he  came  riding  up  with  several  Indians,  and  at- 
tempted to  ride  right  into  the  house.  I  saw  them  coming, 
for  some  distance,  letting  down  top  bars,  so  they  could  jump 
their  horses  over.  I  sent  one  of  the  children  quickly  to  tell 
Mr.  Owens  to  come.  As  he  came  running  into  the  yard, 
Spuckem  saw  him,  and  turned  his  horse  to  run,  but  Owens 
caught  his  axe  from  the  block  and  hurled  it  at  him  with 
great  force.  The  axe  turned  over  in  the  air,  and  the  poll 
of  it  struck  Spuckem  between  the  shoulders,  nearly  knocking 
him  off  his  horse.  Fortunately,  it  was  not  the  blade  of  the 
axe  that  struck  him,  or  it  certainly  would  have  killed  him. 
This  was  the  first  chastisement  Spuckem  had  ever  received, 
and  he  swore  vengeance  against  Mr.  Owens,  though  he  was 
afraid  of  him. 

This  Spuckem  had  now  become  a  "terror"  in  the  neigh- 
borhood. Both  whites  and  Indians  were  afraid  of  him,  for 
he  had  quite  a  following,  especially  among  the  young  braves. 

The  Indians  warned  the  whites,  and  said  Spuckem  was 
determined  to  kill  Owens.  Early  in  April,  the  settlers,  being 
anxious  about  their  safety,  called  a  meeting  for  the  purpose 


154  De.  Owens -Adair. 

of  electing  a  sheriff.  This  meeting  was  held  at  Capt.,R.  W. 
Morrison's.  Mr.  Thomas  Owens  was  placed  in  nomination 
by  Mr.  Tibbets,  and  Mr.  Jerry  Teller  seconded  the  nomina- 
tion. As  no  other  person  was  placed  in  nomination,  Mr. 
Owens  was  unanimously  chosen,  thereby  becoming  the  first 
sheriff'  of  Clatsop  county. 

Spuckem,  nothing  daunted,  made  a  practice  of  riding 
through  the  fields,  letting  down  fences,  and  allowing  the 
stock  to  get  in  the  crops,  merely  to  show  his  authority.  He 
continued  to  get  bolder  and  bolder,  until  one  day — I  think 
it  must  have  been  in  July — he  went  out  with  his  lance,  and 
killed  an  ox  belonging  to  Mr.  Tibbets,  and  gave  a  great 
feast  to  all  the  Indians.  He  knew  that  Mr.  Owens  was 
sheriff,  and  would  attempt  to  arrest  him,  so  he  pretended  to 
have  gone  to  Tillamook,  and  kept  in  hiding  for  some  time. 
One  day  Mr.  Owens  was  cultivating  potatoes  wuth  a  plow  for 
a  near  neighbor  by  the  name  of  Lewis  Taylor,  who  had  an 
Indian  wife.  Spuckem  knew  that  Taylor  did  not  know  him, 
and  thought  he  was  safe  from  detection,  but  Taylor's  wife 
saw  him  coming,  and  told  Taylor  whom  he  was.  .Spuckem 
walked  in,  and  set  his  gun  inside  the  door.  Taylor  went 
out  into  the  field,  and  told  Owens  that  Spuckem  was  in  his 
house.     Owens  replied : 

"I  have  nothing  but  a  pocket-knife,  and  I  know  Spuckem 
always  carries  his  gun.  Could  you  manage  to  get  it  out  for 
me  while  he  is  talking  to  your  wife?" 

Taylor  replied:    "I  think  I  can." 

They  went  to  the  house,  Owens  keeping  out  of  sight,  till 
Taylor  got  the  gun  and  handed  it  to  Owens  through  the  door. 

As  soon  as  Spuckem  saw  Owens,  he  ran  and  hid  in  a 
clump  of  willow  bushes,  Owens  and  Taylor  following. 

Owens  approached  the  willows,  and  saw  Spuckem  crouch- 
ing down  by  a  large  tree,  on  his  knees.  He  called  to  the  In- 
dian, in  his  own  language,  to  come  out  and  give  himself  up, 
and  he  would  not  be  hurt ;  that  the  whites  did  not  want  to 


Some  of  Her  Lifi':  Ivxim^kiknces.  loS 

kill  him,  but  that  he  must  pay  for  the  ox.  Spuckem  rejjlierl 
in  p^ood  Enj^iish  :  "You  have  p^ot  my  pun,  and  I  will  kill 
you  with  my  knife!"  and  rushed  ujjon  CJwens,  with  a  lonp, 
sharp  dirk-knife. 

Owens  receded  several  paces,  with  the  ji^un  leveled  at  the 
Indian,  tellin.jL;-  him  he  would  lire,  hut  on  he  rushed,  till  the 
muzzle  of  the  s'""  li^'  'I'l''  himself  loaded  almost  touched  his 
breast ;  then  (he  fatal  shot  was  fired,  the  bullet  passing 
througli  his  lun^s.  Spuckem  droi)ped  his  knife,  and  ran 
across  a  little  hill,  to  his  lodge,  where  he  died,  after  a  few 
hours  of  agony. 

Although  the  Indians  were  in  reality  glad  that  Spuckem 
was  dead,  they  demanded  tribute,  and  made  many  threats 
if  it  was  not  forthcoming. 

The  whites  sent  them  word  to  meet  them  at  our  house  in 
the  morning  of  a  certain  day,  that  the  matter  might  be 
amicably  settled.  All  the  white  settlers  came  to  this  council, 
and  waited  all  day,  but  no  Indians  came.  Late  in  the  after- 
noon, when  the  last  white  man  with  his  gun  had  gone,  the 
chief,  with  about  fifteen  or  twenty  warriors,  in  full  war- 
paint, feathers,  and  equipments,  came  over  the  hill  to  the 
house.  ]\Iy  husband,  with  his  rifle  in  his  hand,  walked  boldly 
out  to  meet  them,  while  I  stood  in  the  door,  with  the  shot- 
gun in  my  hands. 

The  chief  said:    "We  don't  want  war;  we  want  blankets." 

They  told  how  many  they  w^anted,  and  Mr.  Owens  told 
how  many  the  white  people  would  give. 

After  a  long  pow-wow,  the  terms  were  settled,  and  the  pipe 
of  peace  smoked.  Thus  ended  what  might  have  been  a 
bloody  massacre. 

Mrs.  B.  C.  Kindred,  always  a  very  bright,  thoroughly  re- 
liable lady,  says,  in  referring  to  the  killing  of  Spuckem : 

"I  remember  all  about  it,  just  as  though  it  were  done  yes- 
terday. i\Ir.  Owens  brought  your  mother  and  the  children 
(you  a  very  little  girl  then)   down  to  spend  the  day  with 


156  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

me,  while  he  was  plowing,  or  cultivating,  for  Lewis  Taylor. 
The  killing  was  in  the  afternoon,  for  your  father  came  down 
for  dinner.  We  heard  the  gun  some  time  after  he  returned 
to  work,  and  feared  that  something  had  happened.  I  was 
so  scared  that  I  would  not  stay  at  home,  so  we  all  went  with 
your  father,  in  the  wagon,  and  on  to  Captain  Morrison's. 
Your  mother  and  I  went  out  to  the  place  where  Spuckem 
was  shot,  and  saw  blood  on  the  grass.  I  think  I  could  go  to 
the  place  now.  Lewis  Taylor's  squaw  told  me  that  they 
were  afraid  to  stay  at  home,  and  so  slept  out  in  the  brush 
all  that  night." 

During  the  winter  of  '44  and  '45,  Mr.  Owens  put  in  most 
of  his  time  making  rails  for  Rev.  J.  L.  Parrish,  in  exchange 
for  provisions. 

Among  other  things,  was  a  little  pig,  which  we  kept  in  a 
flour-barrel  for  some  time.  For  this  pig,  300  rails  were  made. 

During  all  this  time,  the  only  bread  we  had  was  made  from 
wheat  parched  in  a  skillet,  and  ground  in  a  coffee-mill.  This 
bread  consisted  principally  of  potatoes,  cooked  and  mashed, 
and  then  mixed  with  the  ground  wheat. 

During  the  winter,  our  son,  Josiah  Parrish,  was  born. 

In  the  spring  of  1845,  Mr.  Owens  sowed  about  six  acres 
of  wheat,  and  an  acre  of  potatoes.  Up  to  this  date,  none  of 
the  family  had  either  shoes  or  stockings.  We  had  moccasins, 
however,  which  I  made  from  deer-skins,  obtained  from  the 
Indians.  My  husband  made  his  shoes  from  the  skins  of  the 
elk  he  killed,  which  he  cured  and  tanned  himself.  These 
shoes  were  made  on  a  wooden  last,  the  soles  being  put  on 
with  wooden  pegs. 

The  first  flax  raised  in  Clatsop  county  I  planted  in  the 
spring  of  1844.  I  dug  up  a  little  garden-spot  with  a  hoe, — 
the  only  garden  tool  we  had.  In  order  to  reach  the  sub-soil, 
I  cut  through  the  sod  with  an  axe,  and  removed  the  sods  in 
squares.  Then  I  cultivated  the  sub-soil  with  the  hoe  and  my 
hands.     When  thorough  pulverized,  I  planted  my  handful 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  157 

of  flax  seed,  which  I  had  brou^-ht  from  the  States.  It  was  the 
custom  in  Kentucky  to  plant  flax  on  Good  Friday,  and  I 
followed  this  old  custom.  I  never  saw  such  fine  flax  before, 
though  I  had  been  accustomed  to  flax  culture  all  my  life,  as 
well  as  to  the  spinning  and  weaving  of  the  fiber.  I  har- 
vested this  little  crop  with  great  care,  saving  every  seed, 
which  yielded  about  one  quart.  I  pulled  the  flax  up  by  the 
roots,  and  tied  it  in  little  bundles,  and  laid  it  in  a  small  lake 
near  by,  to  undergo  the  rotting  process.  I  then  dressed  my 
flax  with  tools  roughly  made  by  my  husband. 

From  this  crop,  I  obtained  enough  floss  to  pad  two  quilts, 
and  a  large  hank  of  the  finest  fiber  I  had  ever  seen.  Out  of 
this  I  spun  shoe-thread,  that  was  used  in  making  the  first 
pair  of  shoes  I  ever  wore  on  Clatsop.  My  spinning-wheel 
was  made  by  Mr.  David  Ingalls,  who  had  never  seen  a  flax- 
wheel,  but  made  it  from  my  description. 

The  shoes,  made  of  elk-skin,  prepared  by  my  husband,  as 
mentioned  above,  were  made  by  Mr.  Samuel  Hall,  who  also 
made  the  -last  for  them. 

The  Indians  soon  discovered  the  treasure  I  had  produced, 
for  it  filled  a  long-felt  want,  in  making  their  fish-nets,  as  it 
was  greatly  superior  to  the  twine  they  manufactured  from 
cedar  bark.  They  watched  the  growth  of  this  flax  with 
great  interest,  and  were  crazy  to  get  it,  engaging  it  all 
ahead.  I  found  that  I  had  quite  a  profitable  business  in  flax, 
having  ready  sale  for  all  that  I  could  raise,  at  from  fifty  to 
sixty  cents  a  pound.  I  was  only  required  to  take  it  through 
the  rotting  process,  and  remove  the  woody  fiber ;  the  Indians 
would  use  every  thread  of  it  by  hand-twisting  it  over  their 
knees.  This  crop  averaged  me  from  ten  to  fifteen  barrels 
of  fine  Chinook  salmon  every  spring,  worth  $9  to  $10  per 
barrel. 

About  1847  and  1848,  salmon-fisheries  began  to  make 
their  appearance,  in  a  way,  and  I  received  employment  in 
making  shirts,  which  the  fishermen  sold  to  the  Indians  for 


158  Dk.  Owens  -  Adair. 

fish.  These  shirts  were  made  of  a  very  strong  fabric  called 
shirting.  There  being  no  thread  in  the  country,  I  ravelled 
out  the  chain,  which  I  doubled  and  waxed,  making  very  good 
thread.  I  made  from  five  to  six  shirts  a  day,  receiving  for 
them  twenty-five  cents  each.  With  this  income  I  was  able 
to  procure  shoes  and  clothing  for  the  children,  and  assist  in 
getting  food  for  our  rapidly  growing  family. 

I  made  one  garment  worthy  of  special  mention,  it  being 
for  the  old  chief,  "Katata."  He  brought  me  ten  yards  of 
bed-ticking,  from  which  he  wanted  me  to  make  him  a  great 
overcoat,  or  robe,  that  would  touch  the  ground.  I  put  all 
the  stuff  in  the  coat,  and  it  greatly  tickled  his  vanity.  He 
would  strut  about  in  this  royal  robe,  amid  his  admiring  sub- 
jects, and  I  doubt  if  ever  any  king  upon  his  throne  in  his 
regal  purple  and  ermine,  felt  his  importance  more  than  did 
this  old  chief,  Katata,  wrapped  in  his  bed-tick.  For  making 
this  garment,  I  received  ten  Chinook  salmon. 

In  1846  or  14:47,  Mr.  Owens  procured  a  herd  of  Spanish 
cattle  from  Robert  Shortess, — about  sixty  or  sixty-five  head. 
From  these  we  were  to  have  one-third  of  the  calves,  and  give 
Mr.  Shortess  ten  pounds  of  butter  a  year  from  every  cow 
we  milked.  A  woman  had  never  attempted  to  milk  one  of 
these  vicious  animals  until  I  tried  it,  while  my  husband  stood 
by  with  a  club.  Up  to  this  date,  he  had  never  learned  to 
milk  a  cow,  but  he  soon  learned  to  milk.  We  broke  and 
milked  ten  cows  the  first  year,  and  obtained  50  cents  to  $1.59 
for  every  pound  of  butter  we  made.  From  this  time  on,  we 
made  money  easily. 

About  1847,  Mr.  Owens  being  desirous  to  have  some  sheep, 
took  an  Indian  and  went  to  Vancouver,  and  brought  home 
two  ewes  and  a  buck.  These  were  the  first  sheep  landed  in 
Clatsop,  and  they  proved  very  profitable,  both  in  wool  and 
increase.  We  readily  received  50  to  GO  cents  a  pound  for 
wool. 

I  have  good  reason  for  remembering  those  sheep.  Father 
said  sister  and  I  might  each  have  a  ewe.     I  was  more  enter- 


SoMi:  OF  IIi'-.K  IjI'I'.  l'"xi'i'.Rii':.\f;r!;s.  lol) 

prisinp^  than  she  cind  more  selfish  and  al  once  selected  the  fine 
handsome  ewe,  leaving  her  Hopkins'  choice  of  the  inferior 
looking-  one.  Sister  complained,  hut  I  would  not  yield. 
When  spring  came  her  ewe  presented  her  with  a  pair  of 
twin  ewe  lambs,  while  a  buck  fell  to  my  lot.  That  almost 
broke  my  heart,  and  to  add  to  my  discomfort,  I  was  told 
that  it  was  a  just  punishment.  Next  year  this  was  repeated, 
giving  sister  five  head,  four  ewes,  while  I  had  but  three 
head,  one  ewe.  This  was  a  lesson  that  served  me  well 
through  life,  and  brings  forcibly  to  mind  what  the  earnest 
and  late  Judge  Cooly,  president  of  the  law  department  of 
the  University  of  Michigan,  once  said :  'Tf  our  children 
could  only  profit  by  our  experiences,  what  a  grand  world 
this  would  be,  but  it  seems  to  be  a  law  of  Nature  tha*; 
every  one  must  learn  through  his  own  experience." 

In  the  spring  of  '48,  Mr.  Owens,  with  Messrs.  Trask, 
Perry  and  Tibbets,  built  a  little  two-masted  Schooner  at  Skip- 
anon,  which  they  called  the  "Pioneer."  They  loaded  this 
schooner  with  dried  and  salt  salmon,  potatoes,  butter,  cab- 
bage, carrots,  cranberries,  and  a  few  skins.  Mr.  Robert  S. 
McEwan  was  made  captain,  and  with  all  the  owners  for  a 
crew,  the  little  vessel  made  a  fortunate  trip  to  San  Fran- 
cisco, where  the  vessel  and  caro  were  sold  at  a  great  profit. 
All  the  owners  and  captain  returned  home  safely,  excepting 
Mr.  Tibbets,  who  died  on  the  way  back. 

From  this  time  on,  we  found  our  herds  so  much  increased, 
that  we  began  to  look  for  a  better  range.  Air.  Perry  had 
moved  to  Southern  Oregon,  and  settled  in  Roseburg,  Doug- 
las county,  and  was  urging  us  to  come  out  there,  where  there 
was  plenty  of  water,  grass  and  game.  So,  in  the  summer 
of  '53,  my  husband  built  a  large  flat-boat,  and  in  the  fall 
we  rented  our  Clatsop  farm,  transported  all  our  cattle,  horses 
and  sheep  in  the  flat-boat  (requiring  several  loads  and  trips 
to  do  so),  to  St.  Helens,  from  where  they  were  to  make  the 
remainder  of  the  joi^rney  overland. 

Then  he  returned  wuth  the  flat-boat  and  brought  his  familv 


160  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

and  goods  to  Portland,  from  which  place  they  continued  their 
journey  in  wagons.  They  were  to  meet  and  join  the  men 
with  the  stock  farther  on,  which  they  did  in  North  Yamhill, 
one  of  the  garden-spots  of  the  Willamette  valley,  about 
twenty-five  miles  from  Portland.  Here  was  situated  the  fine 
farm  of  Mr.  Burton,  father  of  Mrs.  Richard  Hobson,  of 
Astoria,  Oregon. 

The  remainder  of  the  journey  was  delightful.  Water  and 
grass  were  found  in  abundance  for  the  stock.  The  trip  was 
successfully  made,  and,  in  less  than  a  month,  we  reached 
Deer  creek,  and  were  given  a  hearty  welcome  by  our  old 
friends,  the  Perrys,  who  were  overjoyed  at  seeing  us  again. 
They  had  a  home  provided,  and  we  moved  our  household 
goods  in  at  once,  and  were  soon  ready  for  the  winter,  then 
near  at  hand.  Mr.  Owens  at  once  took  up  a  land-claim  just 
across  the  South  Umpqua  river  from  Roseburg,  and  estab- 
lished a  ferry.  Roseburg  then  consisted  of  perhaps  a  dozen 
families.  Mr.  Owens  set  to  work  at  once  to  build  a  boat,  and 
get  his  material  on  the  ground  for  a  house.  In  the  spring 
our  new  home  was  completed,  and  we  moved  in.  It  was 
soon  followed  by  barns  and  all  other  conveniences.  Here  my 
husband  found  ample  range  for  his  cattle,  and  fine  horses, 
and  accumulated  wealth  as  rapidly  as  he  had  in  Clatsop, 
county.  From  here  he  furnished  large  supplies  for  the 
Rogue  River  Indian  war  troops,  getting  his  pay  in  scrip, 
but  not  a  cent  in  coin.  The  war-scrip  gradually  became 
valueless,  causing  my  husband,  as  well  as  other  patriotic 
men,  serious  loss. 

At  this  time,  deer  were  very  plentiful  in  that  locality.  We 
often  saw  herds  of  the  soft-eyed  beauties,  feeding  upon  the 
beautiful  grassy  hill,  just  back  of  our  barn.  Indeed,  they 
often  came  within  gun-shot  of  the  house. 

After  getting  settled  in  our  Roseburg  home,  our  pioneer- 
ing may  be  said  to  have  ceased,  for  we  then,  and  ever  after- 
ward, had  all  the  comforts  and  conveniences  around  us,  in- 


SoMii  OF  Hek  l.iKK  Experiences.  161 

eluding"  excellent  schools  for  our  growing  children.  We 
lived  here  in  peace  and  plenty  fourteen  years,  with  little  to 
give  us  trouble  or  anxiety,  until  about  IftGT,  when  my  son 
Pierce's  health  became  very  poor,  and  my  husband's  strength, 
also,  began  to  fail. 

In  order  to  find  relief  for  both  husband  and  son,  we  moved 
to  Trinity  county,  California,  and  located  at  Piety  Hill.  Here 
we  found  a  delightfully  mild  and  uniform  climate,  giving 
us  hope  that  our  two  invalids  would  recover  their  health  and 
strength.  Our  hopes,  unfortunately,  were  doomed  to  disap- 
pointment, for  we  buried  them  both  in  that  balmy,  southern 
country. 

Shortly  afterward,  I  returned  to  Oregon,  and  began  living 
with  my  children,  always  keeping  a  little  home  of  my  own, 
in  which  I  have  spent  most  of  my  time.  For  several  years 
past  my  home  has  been  in  Empire  City,  Coos  county,  near 
my  daughter,  Mary  McCully,  one  of  whose  twin  girls  I  took 
at  birth,  and  have  raised  as  my  own.  This  child  was  lately 
married,  and,  with  her  husband  and  infant  daughter,  are 
now  living  with  me,  thus  enabling  me  to  enjoy  life,  daily 
reminded  of  childhood's  happy  years. 

(My  mother  is  now  nearing  her  eighty-eighth  birthday. 
She  still  enjoys  excellent  health ;  is  strong  in  body,  and 
vigorous  in  mind,  having  still  a  very  firm  hold  on  life.) 

A  W^ESTERN    V^^IFE. 

She  walked  behind  the  lagging  mules, 
That  drew  the  breaker  through  the  soil ; 

Hers  were   the  early-rising  rules, 
Hers  were  the  eves  of  wifely  toil. 

The  smitten  prairie  blossomed  fair, 
The  log  home  faded  from  the  scene; 

Firm  gables  met  the  whispering  air ; 
Deep  porches  lent  reporse  serene. 


163  Dk.  Owens  -  Adair. 

But  withering  brow  and  snowy  tress 
Bespeak  the  early  days  of  strife; 

And  there's  the  deeper  wrought  impress — 
The  untold  pathos  of  the  wife. 

Oh,  western  mother,  in  thy  praise, 
No  artist  paints,  or  poet  sings. 

But  from  the  rosary  of  days, 

God's  angels  shape  immortal  wings, 

— Will  Chamberlain. 


■i 

^ 

1 

WS^^^^^^^t  ^^<^^^^^^^| 

Ibp' 

.m 

■ 

Mrs.  O.  Hosford 


SoMK  (\f<   I  Tick  Lh'k  Iv\i'i:Rii:xf'r:s.  ^(','^ 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

MRS.   ASRNATII   GLOVER  IIOSFORD. 

The  late  Mrs.  Hosford,  of  Mt.  Tabor,  wife  of  Chauncey 
Osburn  Hosford,  was  one  of  "Old  Clatsop's"  pioneer  women, 
of  whom  any  county  in  the  state  may  justly  be  proud.  Mrs. 
Hosford's  miaden  name  was  Asenath  Glover.  She  crossed  the 
plains  with  her  brother,  Aquilla  Glover,  and  his  family,  in 

1846.  They  were  of  that  ill-fated  Donner  party,  but  Mr. 
Glover  left  the  party,  and  pushed  ahead  with  his  family,  a 
few  days  in  advance,  and  reached  the  valley  of  the  Sacra- 
mento in  safety. 

In  the  days  of  "forty-nine"  there  were  very  few  women 
in  California.  Miiss  Glover  was  one  of  the  five  unmarried 
American  young  ladies  in  San  Francisco  at  that  time. 

Rev.  C.  O.  Hosford  crossed  the  plains  in  1845.  The  fol- 
lowing year  he  became  a  student  in  the  Willamette  Uni- 
versity, and  was  licensed  to  preach  by  that  institution  in 

1847,  being  at  that  time  twenty-five  years  of  age. 

In  1848,  he,  with  nearly  all  of  the  men  of  Oregon,  went 
to  tRe  California  gold  mines,  he  going  under  license  from 
Elder  Roberts,  and  preaching  in  San  Francisco,  at  "West's 
boarding-house." 

Then  he  organized  the  first  Methodist  class-meeting  west 
of  the  Rocky  mountains,  which  became  the  nucleus  of  the 
first  Methodist  church  in  California.  Air.  Hosford  was  of 
excellent  English  blood,  and  when  a  young  man  chanced  to 
be  in  a  ship  that  visited  the  island  of  St.  Helena,  at  the  time 
the  remains  of  the  great  Napoleon  were  removed  from  the 
island,  and  saw  all  the  ceremonies  of  that  impressive  occa- 
sion. This  is  only  one  of  tlie  many  most  interesting  inci- 
dents in  this  good  old  pioneer's  remarkable  life. 


164  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

In  San  Francisco,  in  1849,  he  married  Miss  Asenath 
Glover,  the  woman  who  proved  to  be  more  priceless  to  him 
than  could  have  been  all  the  gold  of  the  earth,  and  who  re- 
mained his  faithful  help-mate,  even  unto  her  death. 

Mrs.  Hosford  came  to  Oregon  soon  after  her  marriage. 
He  was  a  circuit  preacher,  and  for  a  time  their  home  was  on 
Clatsop  plains,  and  here  it  was  that  Mrs.  Hosford's  admir- 
able character  first  began  to  be  known  to  the  people  of  Clat- 
sop county.  She  was  possessed  of  a  strong  individuality,  and 
great  force  and  decision  of  character.  She  was  what  is 
termed  "a.  level-headed"  woman ;  being  a  frugal,  active,  eco- 
nomical, and  thorough  housekeeper,  and,  withal,  a  most  ex- 
cellent cook.  She  was  an  energetic,  cheerful,  consistent 
Christian  mother,  and  an  ever  faithful,  able,  and  watchful 
wife.  Her  husband,  being  a  preacher,  had  many  calls  upon 
his  charity,  and  had  often  to  rely  upon  his  clear-headed,  in- 
dustrious and  thrifty  wife  for  advice,  which  prevented  their 
impoverishing  themselves,  and  forgetting  the  essential  adage 
that  "Charity  begins  at  home."  It  was  the  writer's  privilege 
to  know  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hosford  intimately.  I  knew  them  while 
they  were  hewing  out  their  home  from  the  Mount  Tabor 
fir  forests,  as  well  as  later,  when  Mrs.  Hosford  had  made 
her  yard  literally  blossom  with  beautiful  shrubs  and  flowers 
of  almost  every  variety.  She  delighted  in  flowers,  and  nvith 
all  the  care  that  fell  upon  a  mother  with  a  large  family,  she 
was  always  able  to  find  time  for  the  recreation  and  pleasure 
of  cultivating  her  much-beloved  flowers  and  rare  plants. 

Their  beautiful  home  was  enhanced  within  and  without, 
by  the. presence  of  lovely  and  fragrant  flowers,  and  in  her 
last  delirium,  she  talked  of  them  :  "Beautiful  white  flowers ; 
how  beautiful !    And  they  are  always  used  at  funerals." 

Yes,  and  they  were  used  in  profusion,  at  her  burial.  Even 
her  casket  was  filled  with  the  "beautiful  white  flowers"  she 
loved  so  well. 

No  one  could  have  been  missed  more  than  Mrs.  Hosford, 


SOMK   n|-    lIl.K    [.III':    KXPERIENCES.  165 

not  only  by  lu;r  (lev(jtc(l  faniil),  IjiU  1)\-  licr  Icj^ions  of  friends, 
who  loved  and  appreciated  her,  and  will  cherish  her  memory 
throughout  their  lives. 

Mrs.  Hosford  had  great  executive  al)ility,  and  was  scrupu- 
lously just.  When  she  was  stricken  down  in  her  last  illness, 
she  knew  that  death  was  near,  and  at  once  called  in  her  at- 
torney, and  proceeded  to  divide  her  property  among  her 
children,  thus  finishing  up  her  last  work,  and  setting  her 
earthly  house  in  order. 

It  had  been  Mr.  Hosford's  invariable  habit  to  preach  at 
least  once  each  Sabbath,  which  habit  he  most  industriously 
and  faithfully  continues,  in  storm  and  sunshine,  sometimes 
going  so  far  that  he  is  not  able  to  reach  home  for  the  usual 
Sunday  afternoon  family  gathering.  This  happens  less  often 
in  these  days  of  steamboats,  railroads,  and  electric  cars,  than 
in  the  days  of  canoes,  blind  trails,  and  cayuse  ponies.  When 
Father  Hosford  promises  to  preach,  he  is  sure  to  be  there. 

For  forty-eight  years  this  worthy  couple  fought  the  battle 
of  life  together,  shoulder  to  shoulder,  and  heart  to  heart.  To 
them,  marriage  was  the  greatest  gift  of  a  merciful  God. 

Mrs.  Flosford  died  at  her  Mount  Tabor  home,  December, 
1896,  surrounded  by  her  affectionate  and  devoted  family 
and  friends.  Her  strong,  self-reliant  nature  enabled  her  to 
overcome  all  the  trials  and  privations  of  an  eventful  pioneer 
life,  and  her  later  life  was  made  happy  by  her  loving  family 
and  faithful  friends.  Her  irrepressible  cheerfulness  brought 
happiness  to  her  home,  and  all  with  whom  she  came  in  con- 
tact. She  left  the  world  much  better  for  her  having  lived 
in  it. 

Bring  fragrant  flowers,  and  let  them  sweetly  tell 

The  story  of  her  gracious  life ;  she  loved  them  all  so  well, — 

So  much  she  loved  the  dewy  children  of  the  sod. 

Her  own  soul  grew  into  a  perfect  flower  for  God. 

— Inez  E.  Parker. 


166  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

Mrs.  Hosford  was  the  mother  of  eight  children,  and  seven 
grandchildren ;  two  sons,  Captain  Olin  and  Perne  Hosford, 
of  East  Portland,  and  four  daughters,  Mrs.  Peterson,  wife 
of  a  prosperous  fruit-farmer,  of  Mt.  Tabor ;  Mrs.  Harkins, 
wife  of  Superintendent  Harkins,  of  the  Southern  Pacific 
shops ;  Mrs.  Field,  wife  of  L.  R.  Field,  superintendent  of 
the  Oregon  Southern  Pacific  lines ;  Mrs.  Cora  Grout,  wife  of 
Prof.  D.  A.  Grout,  of  the  Park  Street  school,  of  Portland, 
Oregon. 

All  these  living  children  are  well  settled  in  life,  and 
worthily  enjoy  the  esteem  and  friendship  of  a  large  circle 
of  friends. 

SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF    FRANCES    O.    GOODELL    ADAMS. 

Frances  Olivia  Goodell  was  born  October  5th,  1821,  near 
Monson,  Maine.  Her  mother's  maiden  name  was  Betsy 
Newell.  Her  father.  Deacon  Abel  Goodell,  was  a  worthy 
scion  of  the  old  Puritan  stock.  Industrious,  scrupulously 
honest,  though  poor,  his  neighbors  honored  and  trusted  him, 
and  relied  upon  his  advice,  in  their  troubles.  It  was  often 
said  of  him  that  "Deacon  Goodell  is  so  honest  he  always 
cheats  himself  in  a  bargain,  for  fear  he  will  cheat  the  other 
man" ;  and,  for  my  part,  I  would  rather  deserve  to  have  that 
said  of  me,  than  that  I  was  a  king  of  finance,  and  worth  a 
billion  dollars. 

Deacon  and  Betsy  Goodell  had  eight  children,  of  whom 
Frances  was  the  fifth.  When  she  was  twelve  years  old  her 
parents  moved  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  nine  miles 
from  Galesburg,  the  seat  of  Knox  College,  where  she  was 
a  bright  pupil  under  Professor  Locey,  and  President  Blan- 
chard. 

She  taught  her  first  school  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years, 
and  was  quite  successful.  She  "boarded  around,"  and  al- 
ways afterward  spoke  with  affectionate  gratitude  of  those 
motherly  women  who  were  so  kind  to  the  young  school- 


Rev.  O.  Hosford  and  Grandson  William  Grout 

Waiting  on  the  Hill  of  Life 

Eighty  One  and  Three 


SOMR    OF    TTkR    T.IKK    KxfKRIICNCKS.  1G7 

mistress,  and  who  remained  her  friends  through  hfc.  A 
former  pupil  of  hers,  now  hving-  in  Eugene,  Oregon,  says : 
"She  had  the  sweetest  disposition  of  anyone  I  ever  knew." 

She  was  amiable,  almost  to  a  fault,  since  a  total  lack  of 
resentment  and  self-assertion  is  sure  to  cultivate  arrogance, 
and  a  domineering  disposition  in  those  to  whom  its  habitual 
deference  is  given. 

Yet,  in  her  case,  her  superior  intellect,  and  exce]>tional 
conscientiousness  commanded  respect  wherever  she  was  Well 
known. 

She  was  a  member  of  the  Washingtonians,  the  first  tem- 
perance society  in  the  United  States. 

On  the  28th  day  of  August,  1844,  she  was  married  to  Will- 
iam L.  Adams,  in  the  log  house  where  her  parents  first  lived 
in  Illinois.  They  were  both  graudates  of  Knox  College,  but 
Mr.  Adams  had  taken  an  additional  advanced  course  at  Beth- 
any College,  Va.,  under  President  Alexander  Campbell,  with 
marked  proficiency  in  Greek  and  Latin,  for  which  he  had  a 
special  taste  and  gift.  His  wife  was  equally  fond  of  liter- 
ature, and  her  reading  embraced  a  wider  scope,  since  he 
despised  all  fiction,  thereby  losing  some  of  the  finest  later- 
ature,  and  best  thought  of  the  world. 

Both  were  ready  writers,  but  she  was  modest,  retiring,  and 
self-distrustful,  while  he  was  the  exact  opposite,  being  bold, 
self-assertive,  and  self-confident.  He  wrote  and  published 
much,  in  a  keen,  witty,  and  forcible  style,  and  was  an  excel- 
lent ortheopist,  but  it  was  upon  his  wife  he  depended  always, 
when  not  quite  sure  of  a  word. 

"Frances,  how  do  you  spell  ,"  he  would  ask;  well 

knowing  that  she  would  answer  promptly,  and  that  she  was 
infallibly  correct. 

She  also  wrote  well,  when  she  could  find  time  from  the 
cares  of  a  large  family — for  to  them,  also,  were  born  eight 
children,  three  sons  and  five  daughters.  She  wrote  excellent 
logical  essays  for  the  neighborhood  lyceum,  and  poems  of 


168  Dr.  Owexs  -  Adair. 

real  merit  for  the  albums  of  her  friends ;  and  her  letters  were 
a  source  of  enjoyment  to  her  relatives  and  friends.  She 
read  much,  and  rapidly,  retaining  and  digesting  all  she  read, 
and  was,  therefore,  well,  even  marvelously  well-informed,  not 
only  as  to  all  current  events,  and  concerning  all  the  promi- 
nent characters  of  her  own  day,  but  she  was  an  encyclopaedia 
of  information  regarding  the  world's  history.  I  used,  as  a 
child,  to  wonder  how  mother  could  remember  so  much;  for 
I  noticed  that  no  name  or  circumstance  in  history  was  ever 
mentioned  in  her  presence  that  she  did  not  know  apparently 
all  about  it,  and  have  intelligent  ideas  of  her  own  on  the 
subject. 

Though  so  extremely  shrinking  and  dependent  in  action, 
she  was,  notwithstanding,  a  most  clear  and  independent 
thinker. 

She  was  of  short  stature,  but  sturdy  frame.  Her  hair  and 
eyebrows  were  dark  brown,  her  eyes  blue-gray,  and  her 
brow  high,  full  and  broad.  Too  timid  to  lead  in  any  import- 
ant undertaking,  unless  driven  to  it  by  conscience, — if  she 
trusted  her  leader  she  could,  and  would,  follow  him  to  the 
death. 

When  her  first  two  children  were  two  and  one-half,  and 
six  months  old,  she,  with  her  husband,  started.  May  1st, 
1848,  on  the  long,  long  journey  across  the  plains  to  Oregon, 
the  land  of  moist,  mild  winters,  green  grass,  and  good  and 
abundant  water. 

Their  household  goods,  provisions,  and  babies  were  con- 
veyed in  a  wogan,  drawn  by  one  yoke  of  oxen.  They  had 
one  cow,  old  Rose,  of  blessed  memory.  She  well  deserves 
mention  here,  for  when  one  ox  mired  and  died  on  the  Cas- 
cade mountains,  it  was  she  who,  beside  furnishing  milk  for 
the  babies  all  the  way,  bravely  took  her  place  beside  the 
remaining  ox,  and  brought  the  wagon  and  little  ones  safely 
into  the  Willamette  valley.  She  lived  ten  years  after  that 
(over  twenty  years  in  all),  giving  us  an  abundant,  and  al- 


Some  of  liiiR  Life  ExpKHfKN'CF.s.  169 

most  constant  siq^ply  of  milk, — the  pet  .ind  companirm-  of 
the  chil(h"cn,  wlio  cHmbed  all  over  her,  and  rode  on  her  back 
when  she  was  lying  down,  or  standing  and  walking,  unre- 
sented  by  the  dear  old  beast,  who  loved  us  all  as  much  as 
we  loved  her. 

My  mother  walked  more  than  half  way  across  the  plains, 
to  spare  the  tired,  faithful  oxen. 

The  Indians  were  friendly  then,  and  grass  for  the  cattle 
better  than  it  was  later,  after  more  emigrants  had  passed 
over  the  road. 

Once,  in  the  Cascade  mountains,  we  come  to  a  long  slope, 
so  steep  that  the  v\'agons  had  to  be  chained  together  to  get 
them  safely  down.  Mother  carried  her  baby,  now  nearly 
a  year  old,  down  first,  and  setting  her  where  she  thought  she 
would  be  safe  from  harm,  she  came  back  up  the  mountain 
for  me.  I  was  then  nearly  three,  and  can  remember  the 
scene.  On  her  way  up,  she  was  passed  by  a  dozen  or  more 
Indians  on  horseback.  Alarmed  for  her  infant,  she  hastened 
on  to  bring  the  older  child  as  quickly  as  possible.  To  her 
terror,  she  saw  that  the  Indians  had  stopped  exactly  where 
she  had  left  the  child,  and  were  apparently  trampling  it. 
Breathless  she  ran,  to  find  that  they  had  only  formed  a  close 
circle  around  it,  to  guard  it  till  she  came.  With  tears,  she 
motioned  her  thanks,  and  they  understood,  nodded,  smiled, 
and  rode  away. 

"Right  here,"  Dr.  Adair  says,  "I  want  to  add  a  few  words 
to  this  sketch  of  my  dear,  departed  friend,  whom  this  picture 
so  vividly  brings  to  my  mind;  for,  had  the  precious  life  of 
baby  Helen  been  thus  nipped  in  the  bud,  what,  an  incalcul- 
able loss  it  would  have  been  to  humanity.  Few  women  have 
done  more  for  their  country  than  this  same  saintly  Helen, 
whose  whole  life  has  been  filled  with  Christian  deeds,  and 
duty  to  her  husband,  family  and  neighbors.  (In  the  full 
scripture  sense  of  the  word.)" 

She  has  given  four  splendid  sons  and  two  beautiful  daugh- 


170  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

ters  to  her  state.  All  were  welcomed  by  their  devoted 
mother,  who,  by  precept  and  practice,  has  faithfully  trained 
and  guided  them  into  paths  of  usefulness  and  honor.  Her 
first  two  sons  are  successful  and  able  ministers  of  the  Gos- 
pel, Herbert,  the  eldest,  being  pastor  of  the  Warren  Avenue 
Baptist  church,  Boston,  Mass.,  and  the  second,  Virgil  (whom 
I  call  my  boy),  is  pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  church  in  Clare- 
mont.  New  Hampshire. 

The  third  son  enlisted,  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  and  went  with 
his  company  on  the  first  transport  that  left  San  Francisco  for 
the  Philippines.  He  was  in  the  battle  at  the  taking  of  Ma- 
nila, and  remained  in  the  islands  six  months.  On  his  return, 
he  re-entered  the  University  of  Oregon,  where  he  is  prepar- 
ing himself  for  a  literary  career. 

The  fourth  son  is  also  still  in  the  university.  He  is  all  a 
mother  could  desire,  and  will  not  be  found  wanting  when- 
ever and  wherever  his  country  needs  him,  when  his  majority 
is  attained. 

The  two  daughters  are  happy  wives  and  mothers ;  and, 
though  both  took  the  college  course  with  their  brothers,  they 
are  mistresses  of  the  culinary  art,  and  of  housekeeping,  and 
home-making;  and  are  following  in  the  footsteps  of  their 
intellectual,  yet  domestic  mother. 

What  prophet  could  have  foretold  the  future  blossoming 
and  fruitage  of  the  dormant  seeds  of  posterity  that  lay  folded 
away  in  that  tiny,  blue-eyed,  fair-haired  human  bud,  around 
whom  those  stalwart  savages  were  mounting  guard?  What 
more  beautiful  eulogy  can  be  bestowed  upon  her  than  that 
of  sacred  writ?  "Her  children  rise  up  and  call  her  blessed; 
her  husband,  also,  and  he  praiseth  her." 

My  parents  came  to  a  final  halt  in  Yamhill  county,  Or- 
egon, six  miles  northwest  of  the  present  city  of  McMinnville, 
and  spent  most  of  the  first  winter  (we  reached  Oregon  Octo- 
ber 1st,  1848)  in  the  hospitable  home  of  Dr.  James  McBride, 


Some  of  Ukk  Iavk  Experiences.  171 

father  of  Representative  John  R.,  Judge  T.  A.,  anrl  Sen- 
ator G.  W.  McBride. 

These  great-hearted  ])e()j)le  took  in  the  wayfarers  with 
kindhest  good-will,  though  their  house  then  consisted  of  hut 
three  moderate-sized  rooms,  and  a  spacious  "loft";  and  they 
had,  at  the  time,  all  at  home,  eleven  children  of  their  own. 
I  never  heard  a  quarrelsome  word,  or  saw  any  hut  the  kind- 
est, jolliest  l)ehavior  in  that  house  during  our  stay,  nor  in  all 
the  years  in  which  we  were  constant  associates,  as  neighhors 
and  schoolmates.  My  father  used  their  back  room  as  a 
school-room  that  first  winter,  and  the  families  of  Dr.  Mc- 
Bride, his  sister,  Mrs.  Woods,  and  Mrs.  McBride's  sister, 
Mrs.  Shelton — all  living  near  each  other — made  a  full  school. 
Here  I,  early  in  my  fourth  year,  received  my  first,  and  last- 
ing lessons  in  geography  and  United  States  history,  from 
hearing  the  others  recite. 

Two  governors,  a  representative  to  congress,  four  promi- 
nent physicians,  an  eminent  judge,  and  a  United  States  sen- 
ator, came  from  those  three  families,  arid  all  save  the  senator, 
who  was  born  later,  came  from  that  school.  They  managed 
to  fit  themselves  for  exceptional  success  and  usefulness  in 
life  without  the  aid  of  any  "machine"  whatever. 

In  the  spring  of  1849,  my  father  went  to  the  California 
gold  mines,  and  my  mother  taught  the  neighborhood  school, 
in  a  little  log'  house,  built  b}^  the  settlers  for'  that  purpose, 
boarding  at  the  home  of  Zebedee  Shelton.  "Aunt  Vina,"  his 
good  wife,  was  a  sister  of  Mrs.  McBride,  or  "Aunt  Mahala," 
as  we  all  affectionately  called  her. 

Never  can  I  forget  Mrs.  McBride,  a  small,  but  executive 
woman,  dark-haired,  blue-eyed,  with  intellectual  brow,  and 
keen,  commanding  glance,  who  sat  in  the  wide  chimney- 
corner,  almost  always  with  a  baby  in  her  arms,  ruling  and 
directing  her  family  with  a  wise,  firm,  but  kindly  hand. 

No  dishonorable  act,  or  even  thought,  dared  to  meet  that 
penetrating  eye !     But  sorrow  and  need  never  sought  succor 


172  Dr.  OwEiNS  -  Adair. 

in  vain  from  that  generous  hand ;  and  her  husband  was  her 
fitting  mate,  revered,  trusted,  loved  by  the  whole  country- 
side. They  had  fourteen  children,  all  exceptionally  intelli- 
gent, amiable,  yet  spirited,  witty,  forceful ;  and  all  thoroughly 
trained,  and  ingrained  in  the  cardinal  principles  of  integ- 
rity, industry,  and  hospitality.  The  daughters,  as  well  as  the 
sons,  possessed  strong  mentality,  and  self-respecting  inde- 
pendence, and,  as  all  Oregon  knows,  have  been  leaders, 
wherever  they  were,  in  all  that  was  worthy,  elevating  and 
helpful  to  the  community  and  to  themselves. 

They  were,  all  told,  the  most  loyal  family  to  their  friends, 
and  to  each  other,  that  I  have  ever  known. 

My  father  returned  from  the  mines  within  the  year,  with 
$900  in  gold-dust  and  nuggets.  With  this  sum  he  purchased 
a  farm  of  6iO  acres,  of  a  Mr.  Carey.  They  had  a  black 
woman,  a  former  slave,  living  with  them — the  first  negro  I 
ever  saw — and  I  well  remember  how  terrified  I  was  to  see 
her  take  my  baby  sister  in  her  arms.  To  me  she  was  like 
some  strange,  wild  creature,  who  might  devour  children.  I 
soon  found,  however,  that  she  was  even  kinder  than  white 
people  were  to  children,  and  that  my  fears  were  groundless. 

Here  we  lived  five  happy,  busy  years.  My  mother  worked 
with  my  father  laying  rail  fence,  making  garden,  milking, 
and  aiding  him  in  any  wa}^  she  could,  between  her  house- 
hold duties,  which  she  never  neglected.  Our  first  bushel  of 
seed  potatoes  cost  $5  in  gold.  "Small  potatoes,"  they  cer- 
tainly literally  were ;  but  they  soon  yielded  noble  returns,  for 
that  was  ideal  soil  for  them ;  and  in  those  five  years  we  had 
made  a  pleasant  and  comfortable  home.  Also  two  more 
children, — a  son,  William  H.,  and  a  daughter,  Julia  Frances, 
were  born. 

My  father's  mother,  and  her  two  youngest  daughters,  and 
his  eldest  brother,  O.  H.  Adams,  and  his  family,  had  come 
to  Oregon  in  1853,  and  his  younger  brother,  S.  C.  Adams,  had 
arrived  the  year  before.    They  all  settled  near  us,  and  Uncle 


Some  of  Her  Life  Expekiences.  173 

S.  C.  Adams  married  Dr.  M'cBridc's  eldest  dau^diter,  Martha, 
a  noble  woman,  whom  he  worshiped  to  the  day  of  her  death, 
over  thirty  years  later. 

My  father's  sister,  Eunice,  was  also  married  to  John  R. 
McBride,  the  eldest  son  of  the  family,  who  afterward  rep- 
resented Oregon  in  congress. 

My  grandmother  was  a  strict  Presbyterian  of  the  old 
school,  and  it  distressed  her  to  see  any  relaxation  of  the  old 
time  rigid  rules,  especially  those  of  Sabbath  observance.  But 
I  now  thank  her  for  many  requirements  that  I  then  thought 
too  strict. 

Mother  had  us  commit  to  memory  the  Proverbs,  many  of 
the  Psalms,  and  nearly  all  the  Gospels,  but  we  never  thought 
that  a  hardship.  She  lived,  and  taught  to  us,  her  religion 
in  a  way  that  constrained  us  to  love  and  absorb  it  into  our 
very  physical,  as  well  as  mental  fiber,  so  that  our  love  for 
her  and  God  seemed  one. 

My  father,  having  a  live  interest  in  the  political  affairs  of 
his  adopted  state,  and  a  facile  pen,  had  already  become 
known  for  his  contributions  to  the  Oregonian,  then  edited 
by  Thomas  Dryer,  and,  in  1855,  he  purchased  the  "Spec- 
tator," a  newspaper  published  in  Oregon  City,  Oregon,  and 
we  removed  to  that  place  in  the  spring  of  that  year,  renting 
the  farm. 

We  remained  in  Oregon  City  four  years,  and  here  a  second 
son,  Gaines  M.,  was  born.  Mother  did  not  like  city  as  well 
as  country  life,  but  she  made  the  best  she  could  of  it  for 
father's  sake. 

We  attended  good  schools  here,  and  my  sister  Helen  and  I, 
at  the  ages  of  nine  and  eleven  j^ears,  respectively,  entered  the 
office  of  "The  Argus"  (during  two  years),  of  which  our 
father  was  the  editor  and  proprietor.  The  office,  also,  was 
an  excellent  school,  especially  as  the  foreman.  D.  W.  Craig, 
was  a  scholarly  young  Kentuckian,  to  whom  we  owe  much 
for  the  sterling  training  he  gave  our  minds,  as  well  as  our 


174  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

fingers.  He  presented  us  with  carefully-chosen  books,  which, 
under  his  advice  and  assistance,  we  read,  and  treasured,  and 
it  is  to  these,  and  to  his  wise  suggestions  as  to  our  future 
choice  of  reading,  that  whatever  we  possess  of  sound  literary 
taste  is  largely  due.  He  could  not  have  been  kinder  to  his 
own  little  sisters,  and  his  unfailing  interest  in,  and  affection 
for  us,  is  today,  after  fifty  years'  duration,  one  of  our  price- 
less possessions.  Who  shall  dare  to  say  that  such  a  friend- 
ship, lasting  for  fifty  years  on  earth  unbroken,  can  be  ended 
by  death? 

In  1859  my  father  moved  back  to  the  farm,  where  he  built 
a  handsome  new  home,  and  remained  two  years,  during 
which  time  a  twin  brother  and  sister,  Arthur  Craig,  and 
Amy  Cecilia,  were  born. 

In  1861  father  was  appointed  collector  of  customs  at  the 
Port  of  Astoria,  where  we  lived  the  next  four  years,  and 
where  our  youngest  sister,  Claribel  May,  was  born.  My 
mother  disliked  the  responsibilities  of  official  social  life,  yet 
she  recognized  its  just  claims,  and  endeavored  to  discharge 
its  necessary  requirements  to  the  best  of  her  ability.  Her  eld- 
est two  daughters  were  now  of  an  age  to  assist  her  in  this, 
so  far  as  their  school  duties  permitted. 

It  was  in  this  school  that  they  first  met  Mrs.  Owens,  after- 
ward Dr.  Owens-Adair;  and,  in  their  close  association  as 
classmates,  learned  to  respect,  appreciate,  and  admire  her 
many  fine  qualities. 

I,  the  eldest  child  of  our  family,  was  married,  during  our 
residence  here,  to  Wilbur  W.  Parker,  of  Washington,  Ver- 
mont, July  4,  1863,  and  made  my  home  there  with  my  hus- 
band until  his  death,  January  9th,  1899. 

Here,  also,  my  sister  Helen  was  married,  July  3d,  1865, 
to  Prof.  W.  Johnson,  afterward  president  of  the  University 
of  Oregon.  And  here,  too,  our  brother  Arthur,  the  twin, 
died,  at  the  age  of  four  years. 

My  mother  was  not  sorry,  at  the  end  of  father's  four 


Some  of  11i:u  J^ife  Experiences.  175 

years'  term  of  office,  to  return  to  the  farm,  where  slic  felt 
happiest,  and  most  at  home. 

But  she  was  not  ])crniittc(l  to  end  her  days  there,  for  eight 
years  later — twenty-five  years  from  the  time  it  came  into 
his  possession — my  father  sold  the  dear  old  place  to  R.  R. 
Thompson,  of  Portland,  for  $25,000— just  $1,000,  beside  our 
living  from  it,  for  every  year  we  had  owned  it. 

All  the  family,  save  mother  and  I,  were  glad  it  was  sold, 
that  they  might  remove  to  Portland,  but  we  grieved  for  the 
old  farm. 

Father  purchased  the  property  then  on  the  corner  of 
Eleventh  and  Harrison  streets — now  Thirteenth  and  Har- 
rison, in  Portland. 

Mother  was  quite  contented  in  her  Portland  home.  Her 
eldest  two  daughters  were  now  happily  married ;  her  third 
daughter  teaching  the  Portland  public  schools ;  and  her  eld- 
est son  was  an  attorney  and  police  judge  of  the  city.  My 
father  had  taken  up  the  study  of  medicine,  and,  after  taking 
his  degree  in  Philadelphia,  was  then  practicing  his  profes- 
sion in  Portland. 

Mother  always  loved  gardening,  and  her  Portland  home 
was  soon  made  beautiful  with  shrubs  and  flowers.  She 
greatly  enjoyed  her  church,  the  First  Christian,  corner  Main 
and  West  Park  streets,  within  walking  distance. 

There  were  no  street  cars  in  those  days,  and  many  resi- 
dents of  the  city,  not  in  its  outskirts,  either,  walked  regularly 
one  and  a  half  to  two  miles  to  church.  It  was  a  genuine 
Christianity  that  induced  a  regular  attendance  then,  through 
winter's  storms,  and  summer's  heat;  and  our  mother's  was 
genuine.  '  Her  flesh  had  very  greatly  increased,  and  she  was 
somewhat  lame  from  an  old  ankle-sprain,  so  that  a  walk  of 
ten  blocks  was  no  easy  task  for  her,  but  she  and  her  family 
were  always  in  their  places,  at  the  morning  services,  at  least. 

In  the  country,  when  far  from  any  church,  she  always 
dressed  us  with  unusual  care  on  Sundays,  and,  after  the  din- 


^y§  De.  Owens  -  Adair. 

ner  work  was  done,  she  would  gather  us  about  her  for  an 
hour's  reading,  and  instruction  from  the  Bible,  All  of  us 
who  \yere  old  enough  read  a  verse  in  turn,  and  mother  talked 
to  and  with  us  about  its  meaning.  We  loved  that  hour,  for 
one  thing  because  it  was  the  one  hour  in  the  week  that 
mother  was  not  busy,  and  could  give  herself  entirely  to  us. 
Often,  in  summer,  we  spent  it  under  the  trees,  beside  a  lovely 
mountain  stream  which  flowed  near  our  Yamhill  home — 
Glen  Avoca,  as  father  had  named  it.  She  never  "preached" 
to  us.  She  was  not  strict.  Indeed,  grandmother  thought 
her  almost  dangerously  lax  in  her  religious  training  and 
family  discipline,  but,  though  we  might  sometimes  be  slow 
in  doing  her  bidding,  we  absolutely  never  did  anything  she 
told  us  not  to  do ;  and  her  teaching  and  example  made  lovers 
of  God  and  righteousness  of  us  all ;  and  her  influence  for 
good  reached  beyond  us,  to  the  hired  men,  and  even  to  the 
wild  Indians,  who  were  then  all  around  us. 

After  a  few  years,  my  father  purchased  the  place  where  he 
now  lives,  in  Hood  River,  and  mother  spent  about  a  year 
there,  returning  to  Portland  for  a  short  time,  but  soon  moved 
to  Eugene,  Oregon,  for  the  educational  advantages  for  her 
two  younger  daughters.  After  their  graduation,  two  years 
later,  they  both  engaged  in  teaching,  and  she  was  free  to 
visit  her  married  children. 

Her  eldest  son,  William,  was  now  married  to  Miss  Olive 
Paget,  of  Portland;  her  daughter  Julia  to  Dr.  W.  J.  Mc- 
Daniel,  an  esteemed  physician,  and  her  son  Gaines  to  Miss 
Anna  Pasley,  of  Idaho.  All  her  five  married  children  were 
comfortably  settled  in  life,  and  greatly  enjoyed  her  visits, 
and  urged  her  to  prolong  them.  Her  health  had  always  been 
exceptionally  good  up  to  her  sixty-fourth  year,  when  it 
failed  rapidly,  and,  while  spending  the  last  New  Year  of 
her  earthly  life  at  my  home,  she  one  day  said  to  me :  "I  feel 
that  I  have  done  my  work,  and  I  dread  becoming  sick  and 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  177 

helpless,  so,  if  it  the  Lord's  will,  I  would  like  to  go  soon. 
My  children  do  not  need  me  now,  and  I  am  ready  to  go." 

"Oh,  mother,"  I  said,  "we  do  need  you.  All  your  sons- 
in-law  love  and  respect  you,  and  are  as  glad  to  have  you  in 
their  homes  as  we  are.  You  can  enjoy  your  hfe,  now,  with 
no  more  anxiety  or  hard  work." 

"Yes,"  she  said,  "you  are  all  good  to  me,  and  I  know  I 
am  welcome,  but  I  shall  never  be  well  again,  and  I  am  pray- 
ing to  God  to  take  me  soon,  without  my  knowing  it.  I  do  not 
dread  the  change, — only  the  physical  pangs  of  death,  which 
I  would  like  to  be  spared,  if  it  is  right." 

Dear  mother's  prayer  was  granted,  and,  the  following 
summer,  after  a  terribly  hot  day,  she  was  suddenly  stricken 
with  apoplexy,  and,  after  lingering  unconscious  but  twenty- 
six  hours,  she  entered  into  her  rest  June  23d,  1886,  at  the 
home  of  her  youngest  son,  Gaines,  at  Cedar  Mill  nine  miles 
w'cst  of  Portland,  Oregon,  aged  sixty-five  years  and  eight 
months. 

"Still  let  her  mild  rebuking  stand 

Between  us  and  the  wrong; 
And  her  dear  memory  serve  to  make 

Our  faiths  in  goodness  strong. 

"And  grant  that  she,  who,  trembling,  here 

Distrusted  all  her  powers, 
May  welcome  to  her  holier  home 

The  well-beloved  of  ours," 


178  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

NANCY    IRWIN    MORRISON. 

A  part  of  this  sketch  of  that  remarkable  woman,  Mrs. 
Nancy  Irwin  Morrison,  was  furnished  me  by  her  second 
daughter,  Mrs.  Mary  Ellen  Carnahan.  The  remainder  is 
from  the  pen  of  Hon.  John  Minto,  husband  of  Mrs.  Mor- 
rison's eldest  daughter,  Mrs.  Martha  Ann  Minto.  Mrs.  Car- 
nahan says : 

"My  mother  was  born  April  27th,  1809,  in  Anderson 
county,  Missouri.  She  was  the  mother  of  nine  children, 
thirty-one  grandchildren,  and  eleven  great-grandchildren. 

We  crossed  the  Missuori  river  en  route  to  Oregon,  May 
2d,  1844,  and  reached  Astoria,  January  19th,  1845,  after  a 
nine  day's  trip  down  the  Columbia,  in  an  open  canoe.  The 
rain  continued  during  the  entire  trip  down  the  river.  The 
family  never  slept  in  a  house  from  the  time  we  started  for 
Oregon,  until  we  reached  Astoria,  nine  months  later;  and 
I  have  often  heard  mother  say  that  when  she  took  the  beds 
up  from  the  floor  the  first  morning  in  Astoria,  the  floor  was 
wet  where  they  had  lain,  so  saturated  was  everything,  from 
the  continuous  rain. 

Prior  to  coming  to  Astoria  we  camped  at  Linnton,  opposite 
Oregon  City,  until  father  came  down  to  Clatsop  to  see  the 
place,  and  get  a  canoe  to  move  us.  He  rented  a  part  of  the 
late  Solomon  Smith's  place  and  a  part  of  their  log  cabin. 

We  landed  at  Skipanon,  January  20,  1845,  and  camped  in 
a  hole,  dug  for  a  cellar,  where  Mr.  Wirt  now  lives. 

To  reach  the  Smith  place  we  had  to  cross  a  swamp, 
through  a  perfect  thicket  of  brush  and  crab-apple  trees. 
This   swamp   was   between   two   and   three   hundred   yards 


Mrs.  Nancy  (Irwin)  :\roRRisoN  and  Grandson 


Some  ok  IIi:k  I.iiI':  Ivximckiknces.  179 

across,  and  only  a  trail  had  hccn  cut  tlirouf^di,  and  there 
were  no  bridt^es. 

In  some  places  the  water  and  mud  was  from  two  to  three 
feet  deep  in  the  winter,  and  as  it  had  been  raining  steadily 
for  nearly  two  weeks  the  swamp  was  flooded.  So  there 
was  no  other  alternative  but  to  wade  and  carry  all  our 
effects  over.  Mr.  Eldredge  Trask  met  us  at  the  swamp, 
and,  taking  my  youngest  sister  and  a  brother,  one  under 
each  arm,  he  went  ahead.  Father  followed  with  my  young- 
est brother,  and  mother  with  the  rest  of  the  children  brought 
up  the  rear.  I  think  I  can  see  my  mother's  face  now,  with 
such  a  discouraged  expression  on  it.  She  said  then  that 
she  would  have  "sold  out  for  a  picayune"  (6^  cents). 

Mother  brought  a  little  flax  wheel,  a  bunch  of  flax  and  a 
sack  of  wool,  but  no  cards.  We  children  picked  the  wool, 
from  which  she  spun  yarn,  and  we  knit  stockings.  From 
the  flax  she  spun  sewing  thread. 

When  father  went  to  the  Cayuse  Indian  war,  and  was  gone 
from  December  till  May,  mother  managed  everything,  put- 
ting in  crops,  making  butter,  and  doing  everything  there 
was  to  be  done.  And,  in  addition,  she  did  anything  she 
could  get  to  do  for  the  support  of  the  famiI3^ 

I  remember  that  she  worked  for  many  days,  with  the 
help  of  two  of  the  children,  untieing  a  net  that  had  been  too 
coarsel}^  woven,  for  which  she  charged  only  twenty-five 
cents  a  day.  I  also  remember  that  she  paid  the  taxes  for 
one  year  by  knitting  socks. 

At  the  eighteenth  reunion  of  the  Oregon  Pioneer  Asso- 
ciation Mr.  Minto  read  the  following  interesting  sketch 
of  Mrs.  Morrison : 

"It  is  a  labor  of  love  on  the  part  of  the  writer  to  attempt 
thus  to  convey  to  others  the  character  of  this  estimable 
woman,  as  seen  in  the  toilsome  action  and  the  trying  inac- 
tion, the  sleepless  vigilance  and  constant  readiness  to  meet 
and  overcome  or  endure  the  trials  in  which  her  duties  as 


180  Di{.  Owens  -  Adair. 

a  wife  and  mother  placed  her,  as  an  emigrant  to  Oregon, 
and  as  a  settler  in  that  new  country,  upon  her  arrival. 

'"Sly  point  of  observation  was  as  a  member  of  the  fam- 
ily, at  first  by  temporary  adoption  as  an  assistant  during 
the  journey  to  Oregon,  and  subsequently  by  marriage  to 
her  eldest  daughter  three  years  after  arrival. 

"I  state  this  to  show  the  reader  that  I  had  excellent  oppor- 
tunities to  know  what  manner  of  woman  this  was  who 
crossed  the  plains  and  mountains  with  ox-teams,  when  the 
entire  distance,  from  the  Missouri  to  the  Willamette  rivers, 
was  in  possession  of  the  Indian  race,  to  become,  with  her 
husband,  a  home-builder  in  Oregon. 

"My  task  is  grateful  to  me  because  Mrs.  Morrison  was, 
I  think,  an  excellent  representative  of  her  class ;  there  were 
many  her  peers,  and  some  more  than  her  peers,  in  artificial 
acquirements,  while  some  might  fall  below  her,  so  that  I 
think,  all  things  considered,  she  was  a  good  representative. 
The  same  was  true  of  her  husband.  They  were  both  de- 
scendants of  pioneer  settlers  of  Kentucky,  where  they  were 
born,  in  the  early  part  of  this  century,  grew  up,  married, 
and  moved  west  to   Missouri  with  the  frontier  settlement. 

"Here  I  wish  to  speak  of  the  acquirements  of  this 
worthy  pair  of  representative  Americans,  of  a  class  whose 
work  is  done  on  this  continent.  Neither  of  them  were 
much  indebted  to  the  school  teacher.  He  could  read,  which 
he  did,  on  the  subject  of  political  economy,  studiously,  at 
every  opportunity.  He  could  write,  also,  but  with  such  dif- 
ficulty that  it  was  never  a  congenial  employment.  She 
could  read  with  difficulty,  but  rarely  attempted  it  in  the 
prime  of  her  life,  when  her  children  claimed  her  attention. 
Later  in  life  it  was  a  source  of  great  comfort  to  her,  the 
New  Testament  being  her  favorite  book. 

"Of  course  she  was  versed  and  very  expert  in  the  domes- 
tic labors,  which  in  her  early  life  involved  cooking,  dairy 
management,  spinning,  weaving,  and  soap  boiling,  as  well 


SoMK  oi-   IIi;k   Lii'ic  Exi'KKrKNCES.  181 

as  the  rougher  i)rei);Lrati()n  oi  llax  and  hemp  for  the  spinning 
process.  She  brought  with  her  across  the  plains  a  flax 
wheel,  llax  seed,  bobbins,  weaving  sleighs,  etc.,  necessary 
for  the  manufacture  of  clothing.  She  had  another  acquire- 
ment not  usual  to  womanhood.  She  could  use  a  rifle  with 
effect.  As  a  frontiersman's  daughter,  left  in  early  girlhood 
her  father's  housekeeper  by  the  .death  of  her  mother,  she 
had  been  taught  the  use  of  the  rifle,  but  she  never  affected 
it  in  mannish  ways.  I  have  heard  her  tell  of  killing  a 
hawk,  in  defense  of  her  poultry,  but  never  saw  her  handle 
the  rifle  we  called  her  gun,  although  I  did  overhear  her 
asking  where  it  and  its  accompaniments  were,  one  night 
when  the  camp  was  in  alarm,  expecting  a  night  attack 
from  the  Indians. 

"At  the  time  I  first  saw  Mrs.  Morrison,  in  her  Missouri 
home,  I  made  up  my  mind  it  would  be  very  stormy  near 
her  when  domestic  matters  went  wrong,  supposing  I  saw 
signs  of  a  very  high  temper.  I  believe  yet  the  temper 
was  there,  but  it  has  never  been  my  lot  to  know  any  one 
who  had  more  self-control,  or  who  laughed  so  often  when 
some  one  would  rail  and  scold.  I  will  give  an  incident 
which  occured  within  the  first  hour  of  my  becoming  a 
member  of  her  household. 

"It  was  yet  early  in  the  morning  when  Wm.  H.  Rees, 
subsequently  a  representative  man  in  early  Oregon,  and  I 
reached  Mr.  Morrison's  farm,  having  left  the  camp  of 
intending  emigrants  upon  information  that  he  (Morrison) 
wanted  two  assistants  for  the  journey.  We  found  him 
just  leaving  the  house,  after  an  early  breakfast,  as  he  was 
much  pressed  for  time  for  his  preparations.  In  less  time 
than  I  can  write  it  we  had  agreed  to  serve  him  in  any  w'ay 
we  could  to  get  him  and  his  family  and  effects  to  Oregon. 
He  was  to  board  us,  do  our  washing  and  mending,  and 
haul  our  trunks  of  clothing,  etc.,  for  such  service.  Learn- 
ing  we   had   not    breakfasted   he   took   us    into    the    cabin, 


182  Dk.  Owens  -  Adair. 

introduced  us  and  our  need  of  breakfast,  and  went  himself 
and  saddled  a  horse,  and,  as  we  arose  from  the  table,  put 
money  (gold  coin,  a  rare  money  at  that  time)  into  Mr. 
Rees'  hand  and  told  him  to  ride  to  St.  Joseph,  nine  miles 
away,  and  buy  nine  barrels  of  flour,  and  so  much  cornmeal, 
for  the  journey.  Mr.  Morrison  took  me  with  him  to  bring 
a  tongue,  or  pole.  Mrs.  .Morrison  came  to  the  door  and 
said :  'Wilson,  you'd  feel  queer  if  that  man  should  serve 
you  a  Yankee  trick,  and  go  off  with  your  horse  and  money.' 
It  was  evident  to  me  that  such  a  thing  had  not  occurred 
to  Mr.  Morrison.  He  was  speechless  for  some  seconds, 
and  then  quietly  remarked :  'Well,  all  I  can  say  is,  if  he 
does  he  had  better  not  let  me  catch  him.'  The  lady  laughed 
and  returned  to  her  household  affairs ;  and  these,  from 
the  time  I  became  a  member  of  her  household,  were  cer- 
tainly very  laborious. 

"Here  I  wish  to  note  a  fact  which  I  presume  was  true 
of  a  large  majority  of  the  wives  and  mothers  who  crossed 
the  plains  as  pioneers.  The  movement  was  against  the 
judgment  and  feelings  of  Mrs.  Morrison.  She  told  me 
so,  in  so  many  words,  but  never  alluded  to  the  subject  again 
until  she  had  been  several  years  in  Oregon,  and  then  she 
told  me  she  was  satisfied  with  the  change,  on  her  husband's 
account ;  but  she  believed  that  he,  himself,  was  not. 

"No  person  seeing  Mrs.  Morrison  in  her  daily  routine 
of  duties  would  have  supposed  she  was  engaged  in  an  en- 
terprise her  judgment  did  not  endorse.  She  was  no  com- 
plainer.  Wliile  sociable,  she  was  not  an  excessive  talker. 
She  was  at  this  time  in  the  prime  of  life,  and,  thinking  for 
words  to  characterize  her  in  her  relations  to  her  family 
and  others,  those  of  Proverbs  xxi  :25,  come  to  mind : 

"  'Strength  and  honor  are  her  clothing.' 

"Her  neighbors  and  friends  must  have  been  very  numer- 
ous, for  during  the  last  two  weeks  of  her  residence  in  Mis- 
souri   there    was    an    almost    incessant    stream    of    visitors, 


Two  OF  My  Babies 

Grandchildren  of  Mr.  and  Mks.  Elijah  Jeffers 

Great  Grandchildren  of  Mrs.  Sar.a.h  Hurfurd  Jeffers 


SoMK    OK    TTl'-.K    T.IKI':    EXCKKII'-.NCES.  183 

many  of  whom  came  from  a  distance,  and  all  the  shifts  of 
frontier  life  were  hronj^hl  into  play  to  j)rovide  bcfls  for  all. 

"  'The  reason  firm,  the  temperate  will, 
Endurance,  foresiij^ht,  strength  and  skill; 
A  perfect  woman,  nobly  planned 
To  warm,  to  comfort,  and  command ; 
And  yet  a  spirit  still  and  brig-ht. 
With  something  of  an  angel  light.'  " 

SAKAIl    JIURFOKI)  JEFFERS. 

Sara  Hurford  Jefifers,  widow  of  the  late  Joseph  Jefifers, 
was  born  September  21,  1808,  near  Worcester,  Ohio.  The 
following  incidents  of  her  life  were  given  to  the  writer  by 
this  wonderfully  active  and  worthy  lady,  in  April  last,  while 
visiting  at  the  home  of  her  son,  E.  C.  Jefifers,  whose  beau- 
tiful home  is  very  appropriately  named  "Grand  View." 
She  said: 

"We  were  married  in  Wheeling,  West  Virginia,  Novem- 
ber 29,  1829.  My  parents  were  both  natives  of  old  Vir- 
ginia, my  father  d}-ing  when  I  was  quite  young.  Aly  hus- 
band's parents  were  also  born  in  Virginia,  and  his  grand- 
father was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  and  the  war  of  1813. 

"In  1837  we  moved  to  Burlington,  Iowa,  then  a  little 
town  with  many  stumps  and  much  ague,  but  there  we 
made  our  home  for  ten  years.  In  1847  we  started  on  our 
long  journey  to  Oregon,  with  our  three  children,  John  H., 
Elijah  C,  and  Cara  L.  We  had  already  lost  five  children, 
and  my  husband's  health  had  not  been  good  in  Iowa,  the 
cold  weather  not  agreeing  with  him.  To  obtain  a  home  in 
a  healthy  country  was  the  chief  cause  of  our  coming  to 
Oregon.  After  arriving  here  my  husband  looked  around 
for  the  healthiest  part  of  Oregon,  leaving  me  and  our 
children  in  Oregon  City.  He  finally  located  here  in  this 
place,  in  Clatsop  county,  where  we  have,  indeed,  had  ex- 


184  Dr.  Owens  -  ^-Vdair. 

cellent  health.  Here  my  husband  died  on  January  2,  1867, 
since  which  time  this  has  been  the  home  of  my  son  EHjah 
and  his  family.  I  think  my  husband's  life  was  prolonged 
considerably  In-  coming  here. 

"At  this  date  (April  11,  1897)  we  have  two  living  chil- 
dren of  all  the  eleven  born  to  us.  The  survivors  are  my 
son  Elijah,  and  daughter,  Mrs.  Cara  Hibbard,  of  Portland, 
Oregon.  I  still  enjoy,  thanks  to  Almighty  God,  excellent 
health,  and  feel  that  I  have  had  many  blessings  through- 
out my  long  life.  I  have  endeavored  to  lead  a  Christian 
life,  having  united  with  the  Methodist  Church  when  a  girl, 
in   Wheeling,   West   Virginia. 

"I  attended  the  Methodist  Church  in  Oregon  City  the 
first  Sabbath  after  our  arrival,  and  heard  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Roberts  preach  from  the  text,  'As  for  me  and  my  house,  we 
will  serve  the  Lord.'  " 

Mrs.  Teffers  is  spending  the  evening  of  her  life  with 
her  son  Elijah,  on  the  place  selected  by  her  husband,  half 
a  century  ago.  Here  this  good  lady  is  surrounded  by  her 
grand-children  and  great-grand-children,  and,  at  nearly 
ninety  years  of  age,  she  still  reads  for  several  hours  a  day, 
and  occasionally  writes,  with  extraordinary  ease  for  one 
so  old.  Her  mjnd  and  memory  are  bright  and  reliable. 
She  is  a  great  blessing  to  the  household  and  bids  fair  to 
live  to  be  a  hundred. 

I  might  cover  many  pages  in  writing  of  this  worthy 
Clatsop  county  pioneer,  but  she  has  already  a  prominent 
place  in  "The  History  of  the  Pacific  Northwest,"  Vol.  2, 
page  389. 

While  time  lasts  and  memory  exists  Grandma  Jeffers 
will  live  in  the  hearts  of  many  people  as  an  illustrious  ex- 
ample of  the  pioneer  mother,  grand-,  and  great-grand- 
mother, who  followed  the  golden  rule,  "Do  as  you  would 
be   done  by,"   throughout  her   long   and  eventful  life. 

"Servant  of  God,  well  done." 


Some  oi--  Her  Lii-e  Exi'ekiences.  185 

'  The  parents  of  these  bcauitful  cliildrcn,  Irving  Jefifers 
and  wife,  their  grandparents,  Ehjah  jeffers  and  wife,  and 
their  great-grandparents,  Joseph  Jeffers  and  wife,  pioneers 
of  Clatsop  county,  Oregon,  were  all  particular  friends  of 
Dr.  Adair,  who  officiated  at  the  birth  of  both  children. 

Their  great-grandmother,  Mrs.  Jefifers,  was  a  woman  of 
rare  nobility  of  character.  Dr.  Adair  attended  the  party 
given  by  her  son  Elijah  to  celebrate  his  mother's  00th  birth- 
day. All  the  invited  guests  were  pioneers — friends  of  her 
first  years  in  Oregon,  and  tried  friends  of  succeeding  years. 

Mother  Jeffers  sat  at  the  head  of  the  table  and  said  a 
feeling  and  appropriate  grace.  She  was  bright  and  ani- 
mated, and  enjoyed  the  social  communion  with  her  old 
friends  greatly,  declaring  that  evening  that  it  was  the  hap- 
piest day  of  her  life. 

Before  they  all  parted  she  requested  the  privilege  of 
praying  with  them,  so  all  knelt  together  and  listened  to  the 
most  beautiful  and  touching  prayers  from  her  lips  that 
they  had  ever  heard.  The  scene  made  an  impression  on 
the  minds  of  those  present  never  to  be  effaced. 

At  the  age  of  93  she  attended  the  pioneer  reunion  in  Port- 
land, Oregon,  and  Dr.  Adair,  seated  near  the  speakers 
of  the  day,  saw  her  sitting  in  the  front  of  the  audience. 
The  Doctor  stepped  down,  and,  taking  her  by  the  hand, 
led  her  to  the  platform  and  seated  her  well  forward,  where 
she  could  hear  and  see  everything,  thus  adding  much  to 
the  dear  old  lady's  enjoyment,  besides  giving  her  a  de- 
served place  of  prominence,  for  she  was  truly  one  of  the 
grandest  of  pioneer  women,  a  noble  and  devoted  Christian 
heroine,  a  queen  uncrowned. 

She  kept  up  her  correspondence  with  her  old  friends  and 
was  constantly  bus}',  mending,  knitting,  reading  much  in 
her  Bible,  and  assisting  in  the  care  of  her  grandchildren. 
She  retained  her  faculties  to  the  very  last,  calmly,  nay. 
joyfully  awaiting  her  summons,  and  passing  peacefuly  and 


186  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

painlessly  away  at  the  ripe  age  of  94,  universally  honored 
and  beloved. 

"Oh,  sweet,  calm  face,  that  seemed  to  wear 
The  look  of  sins   forgiven ! 
Oh,  voice  of  prayer  that  seemed  to  bear 
Our  own  needs  up  to  heaven. 

"How  reverent  in  our  midst  she  stood, 
Or  knelt  in  grateful  praise ! 
What  grace  of  Christian  womanhood 
Was  in  her  household  ways !" 

MRS.    AIARY  AUGUSTA  GRAY. 

Very  little  more  than  a  century  has  elapsed  since  our  beau- 
tiful Columbia  river  was  seen  by  other  eyes  than  those  of 
savages. 

Just  three  hundred  years  from  the  eventful  1492,  when 
Columbus  demonstrated  to  the  unbelieving  world  the  ex- 
istence of  another  continent  toward  the  setting  sun,  beyond 
the  ocean  that  had  hitherto  bounded  their  lives,  in  1792,  on 
the  11th  day  of  May,  a  ship  from  Boston,  commanded  by 
Captain  Robert  Gray,  discovered  and  entered  the  mouth  of 
this,  the  third  great  river  on  the  American,  continent,  giv- 
ing it  the  name  of  his  ship,  the  Columbia. 

From  this  time  attention  was  directed  to  the  Northwest 
coast,  and  vessels  frequented  the  river  until  March,  1811, 
the  present  site  of  the  town  of  Astoria  was  selected  and 
occupied  by  the  Pacific  Fur  Company.  This  was  the  be- 
ginning of  the  settlement  of  Oregon,  but  it  spread  no  far- 
ther for  about  twenty-five  years.  In  response  to  the  touch- 
ing appeal  of  the  four  Indians  who  came  from  their  home 
beyond  the  Rocky  mountains  to  St.  Louis  in  1834,  asking 
for  the  "White  man's  Book,"  telling  about  the  "white  man's 
God,"  and  a  teacher  to  explain  it  to  them,  the  hearts  of 
Christians  were  aroused,  and  two  of  the  missionary  societies 


So.Mic  oi-  lli:k  r.iri-.  I^.\['i-,i<n=:NCES.  187 

took  measures  to  answer  the  call — the  M.  E.  Society  of  the 
United  States,  and  the  American  Board  of  Commissions  for 
Foreign  Missions,  at  Boston.  The  company  of  missionaries 
sent  by  the  American  Board  were  Rev.  Samuel  Parker, 
and  Dr.  M'arcus  Whitman,  who  established  a  mission  sta- 
tion among  the  Nez  Perces,  at  Walla  Walla.  When  the 
location  was  decided  upon.  Dr.  Whitman  immediately  re- 
turned to  the  East  to  procure  associates  to  carry  on  the 
mission.  On  the  strength  of  his  report,  the  American  Board 
resolved  to  enter  upon  the  work,  and  instructed  Rev.  H.  H. 
Spalding  and  Mrs.  Spalding,  with  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Whitman, 
to  proceed  the  next  year  to  Oregon  to  labor  among  the  Nez 
Perces.  At  the  solicitation  of  the  board,  Mr.  Wm.  H.  Gray, 
of  Utica,  New  York,  accompanied  them  as  secular  agent  of 
the  expedition,  and,  in  September,  1836,  the  party  reached 
Walla  Walla,  on  the  Columbia  river.  The  following  year 
Mr.  Gray  returned  to  the  East  to  procure  supplies  and  re- 
inforcements for  the  mission,  and  in  both  respects  was  suc- 
cessful. While  there  he  sought  in  marriage  and  won  the 
hand  of  Miss  Mary  Augusta  Dix,  of  Champlain,  New  York, 
a  choice  in  which  he  was  signally  guided  by  the  good  hand 
of  God  upon  him.  Miss  Dix  was  a  young  lady  of  refine- 
ment and  education,  and  of  unusually  lovely  person,  man- 
ners and  character.  In  addition  to  these  she  was  a  humble, 
consecrated  Christian.  She  came  to  the  wilds  of  the  un- 
known Territory  of  Oregon,  not  as  many  came  in  later 
years,  drawn  by  the  stories  of  the  wonderful  attractiveness 
of  the  climate  and  soil,  but  the  word  went  to  the  East  that 
there  were  human  souls  under  dusky  skins  calling  for  "the 
Bread  of  Life,"  and,  actuated  b}'  a  desire  to  teach  the  Gos- 
pel of  salvation  to  the  heathen  on  our  own  shore,  she  came 
with  her  husband,  in  the  second  party  of  missionaries,  under 
the  direction  of  the  American.  Board,  to  join  the  four  who 
had  preceded  them,  and  formed  the  advance  guard  of  the 
grand  army  which  founded  a  new  civilization  on  the  North- 


188  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

west  coast.  The  party  arrived  at  Whitman's  station, 
Waiilaptn.  September  1,  1838.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spaulding 
had  established  another  station  at  Lapwai,  and  thither  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Gray  proceeded,  remaining  to  labor  with  them 
among  the  Nez  Perces. 

Mrs.  Gray  entered  heartily  into  the  work  of  teaching  the 
Indian  women  and  children  at  Lapwai.  She  commenced 
her  labors  immediately,  with  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  chil- 
dren, which  she  taught  under  a  pine  tree  during  the  fall, 
and  until  a  log  schoolhouse  was  built.  This  is  described 
as  a  "puncheon"  (log  hewn  flat)  seated,  earth-floored  build- 
ing; and  here  she  taught  her  pupils  until  March,  1839. 

One  especially  interesting  fact  in  connection  with  her  la- 
bors there  has  been  handed  down  to  us.  She  had  a  remark- 
ably sweet,  well-trained  voice,  and  when,  on  the  morning 
after  her  arrival,  she  joined  in  the  singing  at  family  wor- 
ship, Mr.  Spaulding  felt  that  it  would  be  a  power  in 
their  Sabbath  services,  and  requested  her  to  conduct  that 
part  of  the  worship.  When  the  Indians  heard  her  sing, 
they  were  visibly  impressed,  and  afterward  spoke  of  her  as 
"Christ's  sister."  (The  above  is  related  and  told  by  some 
of  the  older  Indians  and  Hudson's  Bay  men.)  Whenever 
she  sang  they  would  gather  and  listen  with  rapt  attention 
as  if  to  heavenly  music. 

In  the  fall  of  1839  she  left  for  the  Whitman  Station, 
with  her  husband  and  infant  son,  in  a  Chinook  canoe,  pad- 
dled and  steered  by  two  Nez  Perce  Indians.  They  re- 
mained there,  Mrs.  Gray  assisting  Mrs.  Whitman  in  teach- 
ing, until  1842,  when  they  came  to  the  Willamette  valley. 
Later  they  removed  to  Clatsop  Plains,  where  they  resided 
several  years,  and  finally  settled  in  Astoria. 

Wherever  they  went  they  strove  to  advance  the  King- 
dom of  Christ,  and  exerted  a.  decided  influence  in  the  cause 
of  education,  temperance,  and  benevolence.  In  1846  they 
assisted  in  forming  the  first  presbyterian  church  in   Ore- 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  189 

gou,  will)  Rev.  Lewis  Thompson  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Condit, 
of  Clatsoi)  1  Mains  (Clatsop  Churcli,  orj^anized  Sq^tcmber 
19,  184G).  Seven  of  their  children  survive  them.  They 
are:  Judge  J.  H.  D.  Gray,  of  Astoria;  Mary  S.  (Mrs. 
Frank  Tarbcll,  of  Tacoma)  ;  Caroline  A.  (Mrs.  Jacob 
Kamm,  of  Portland,  Oregon)  ;  Sarah  F.  (Mrs.  Wm.  Aber- 
nethy,  of  Dora,  Coos  county,  Oregon)  ;  Captain  Wm.  P. 
Gray,  Captain  Albert  W.  Gray,  and  Captain  James  T. 
Gray,  of  Portland,  Oregon. 

While  visiting  at  her  mother's,  a  few  months  before  her 
death,  Mrs.  Kamm  said  to  her  one  day:  "Mother,  I  have 
often  wondered  how  you,  with  your  education  and  sur- 
roundings, the  refinements  of  life  you  were  accustomed 
to,  and  your  own.  fastidious  personal  habits,  could  pos- 
sibly have  made  up  your  mind  to  marry  a  man  to  whom 
you  were  a  total  stranger,  so  short  a  time  from  your  first 
meeting  with  him,  and  going  with  him  such  a  terrible 
journey,  thousands  of  miles  from  civilization,  into  an  un- 
known wilderness,  across  two  chains  of  mountains,  and 
exposed  to  countless  dangers.  Mother,  how  could  you 
ever  do  it?" 

While  Mrs.  Kamm  was  recounting  all  these,  to  her,  in- 
surmountable objections  to  a  young  lady  of  delicate  sensi- 
bilities, and  native  modesty,  her  mother  sat  with  her  eyes 
intently  fixed  upon  the  carpet,  and  then,  after  a  few 
moments'  pause,  replied  with  great  earnestness :  "Carrie,  I 
dared  not  refuse.  Ever  since  the  day  wdien  I  gave  myself 
up  to  Jesus,  it  had  been  my  daily  prayer,  'Lord,  what  wilt 
Thou  have  me  to  do?'  and  when  the  question,  'Will  you  go 
to  Oregon  as  one  of  a  little  band  of  self-denying  mission- 
aries, and  teach  those  poor  Indians  of  their  Savior?'  was 
suddenly  proposed  to  me,  I  felt  that  it  was  the  call  of  the 
Lord,  and  I  could  not  do  otherwise." 

And  her  daughter  saw  and  felt  the  power  and  love  of 


190  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

Christ  that  had  been  the  governing  principle  of  her  moth- 
er's Hfe,  and  owned  the  sweet  and  sacred  influence. 

Among  Mrs.  Kamm's  first  recollections  were  the  little 
missionary  and  maternal  meetings  which  were  held  in  their 
house.  She  distinctly  remembers  these  meetings,  as  it  was 
her  lot  to  "take  care  of  the  baby,"  while  her  mother  con- 
ducted the  simple  services,  and  afterward  wrote  the  min- 
utes in  a  spare  copy-book.  The  collection  on  missionary- 
day  was  never  forgotten.  These  early  records  would  be  of 
the  deepest  interest  now,  but  they  cannot  be  found. 

In  1870,  after  an  absence  of  thirty-two  years,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Gray  returned  to  New  York  for  a  visit,  going  by 
steamer  to  San  Francisco,  and  thence,  by  rail,  to  New 
York.  One  can  imagine  their  sensations,  as  they  were 
whirled  along  rapidly  over  the  ground  which  they  had 
crossed  so  many  years  ago,  so  slowly  and  laboriously. 

On  the  8th  of  December,  1881,  Mrs.  Gray  died  at  her 
home  on  the  Klaskanine  farm,  aged  71  years  11  months  and 
7  days. 

She  had  taken  her  seat  at  the  breakfast  table,  as  usual, 
but,  feeling  quite  imwell,  retired  to  her  room.  She  was 
seized  with  severe  vomiting,  which  could  not  be  stopped. 
She  was  evidently  sinking.  Her  husband  said  to  her: 
"Mother,  are  'you  going  to  leave  us ;  are  you  prepared 
to  go?" 

"Yes,  if  it  is  the  Lord's  will.  I  have  endeavored  faith- 
fully to  serve  Him,  and  He  will  not  forsake  me  now." 
From  this  time  she  appeared  to  be  relieved,  and  with  a  lit- 
tle more  conversation  on  family  matters,  she  ceased  speak- 
ing. Soon  after,  with  an  earnest  prayer  that  her  children 
and  friends  might  join  her  in  her  Father's  House,  "not 
made  with  hands,"  there  to  dwell  with  her  Lord  and  Savior, 
Who  had  been  with  her  through  all  life's  journey,  she 
passed  peacefully  into  her  rest. 

One  who  knew  her  well,  writes :  "The  death  of  Mrs.  Gray 


Some  ok  Her  I.ifi-:  Experiences.  191 

calls  forth  regret  from  a  large  circle  of  friends,  who  have 
long  known  and  loved  her,  and  we  add  our  testimony  to  the 
valuable  life  of  one  whose  friendship  we  valued  so  much. 
She  came  as  a  missionary,  filled  with  a  desire  to  devote  her 
life  and  earnings  to  the  cause  of  Christ,  and  well  did  she 
fulfil  that  promise,  bravely  facing  all  the  dangers  and  de- 
privations of  a  pioneer's  life — no  light  thing  for  one  who, 
like  her,  had  sacrificed  high  social  culture  to  such  a  life 
among  Indians,  in  a  wild,  far-off,  unknown  country.  Leav- 
ing all  behind  her,  she  turned  her  face  to  the  setting  sun, 
laying  her  life  down  on  the  altar  of  God  without  regret. 
She  was  one  of  the  few  women  who  grow  old  gracefully. 
Time  only  seemed  to  add  sweet  grace  of  manner,  and  the 
lines  of  age  on  her  face  showed  only  kindness,  and  the 
extreme  patience  of  her  daily  life.  'She  hath  done  what  she 
could.'  Who  can  count  the  influence  of  her  life  and  ex- 
ample? A  large  family,  who  have  gone  out  into  the  world, 
will  miss  her  sweet  counsel  and  admonition.  The  beauti- 
ful description  of  a  good  wife,  by  Lemuel,  in  'the  propliecy 
that  his  mother  taught  him'  (Proverbs,  xxxi:10-31),  finds 
a  perfect  verification  in  Mrs.  Gray's  daily  life  and  charac- 
ter: 'The  heart  of  her  husband  doth  safely  trust  in  her; 
she  shall  do  him  good,  and  not  evil,  all  the  days  of  her 
life.  She  layeth  her  hands  to  the  spindle,  she  stretcheth 
out  her  hands  to  the  poor,  and  to  the  needy ;  she  openeth 
her  mouth  with  wisdom,  and  in  her  tongue  is  the  law  of 
kindness.  She  looketh  well  to  the  ways  of  her  household, 
and  eateth  not  the  bread  of  idleness ;  her  children  rise  up 
and  call  her  blessed ;  her  husband,  also,  and  he  praiseth 
her.  Give  her  the  fruit  of  her  hands,  and  let  her  own 
works  praise  her  in  the  gates.'  " 

Mr.  Gray  survived  his  wife  about  eight  years.  He  spent 
the  last  seven  weeks  of  his  life  at  the  house  of  his  son- 
in-law,  Jacob  Kamm,  Esq.,  of  Portland,  and  died  Novem- 
ber 14,  1880,  aged  79  years  2  months  and  6  days. 


192  Dk.  Owens  -  Adair. 

Besides  his  missionary  duties  and  the  other  labors  conse- 
quent upon  his  engagement  to  the  American  Board  from 
1836  to  1842,  Air.  Gray  found  time  to  keep  a  minute  detail 
of  the  occurrences  of  their  daily  life;  and  in  1879  he  pub- 
lished a  "History  of  Oregon."  He  had  also  published 
lesser  works,  but  quite  important,  and  did  much  to  estab- 
lish the  fact  that  Dr.  Whitman's  purpose  in  his  now  famous 
ride  across  the  continent  in  the  winter  of  1842-1843,  was 
to  save  Oregon  to  the  United  States. 

A  handsome  monument  of  Italian  marble  marks  the  spot 
in  the  Astoria  cemetery  where  they  lie.  It  was  prepared 
as  a  memorial  of  love  and  respect  to  Mrs.  Gray  from  her 
husband.  "For  if  we  believe  that  Jesus  died  and  rose  again, 
even  so  them,  also,  which  believe  in  Jesus  will  God  bring 
with  Him." 

The  above  sketch  is  from  the  pen  of  Mrs.  Amory  Hol- 
brook,  of  Portland,  Oregon,  a  devoted  friend  of  the  late 
Mrs.  Wm.  H.  Gray.  Mrs.  Holbrook  is  herself  a  pioneer 
of  Oregon,  widely  and  highly  esteemed.  She  has  devoted 
her  life  to  her  church,  and  to  benevolent  works.  No  one 
person  in  Portland  has  done  so  much  for  the  First 
Presbyterian  church  as  has  Mrs.  Holbrook.  She  has  al- 
ways been  wide  awake  and  energetic  in  keeping  fully 
abreast  of  the  times  in  all  the  work  of  charity  and  benevo- 
lence.   Time  brings  to  her  only  beauty,  homage  and  love. 

Judge  McCown,  in  his  "occasional"  address  of  1884, 
stated,  on  page  21  of  his  address :  "No  woman  ever  turned 
back." 

An  incident  related  by  Judge  J.  H.  D.  Gray,  showing 
the  strong  character  of  his  mother  while  living  on  Clatsop 
Plains  in  1846,  just  after  Mr.  Thomas  Owens  had  killed 
the  bad,  vicious  Indian,  "Spuckem,"  while,  as  sherifif,  he 
was  attempting  to  arrest  him.  The  Clatsop  Indians  put  on 
war-paint,  and  a  large  number  of  them  rode  by  Mrs.  Gray's 
house  in  hostile  Indian  fashion.     Mrs.  Gray,  at  first  sight 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  193 

of  them,  sent  her  children  out  into  the  brush,  warning 
them  to  keep  out  of  sight.  Judge  Gray  distinctly  remem- 
bers how  they  were  urged,  and  finally  persuaded  to  re- 
main peaceful  by  the  eloquent  and  forcible  language  of 
Mrs.  Helen  Smith,  the  Indian  wife  of  a  white  settler,  whose 
great  influence  over  her  people  is  elsewhere  referred  to  in 
these  sketches.  Here  we  have  another  of  the  many  occasions 
where  a  woman's  influence  saved  a  whole  settlement  from 
destruction  by  Indian  massacre. 

"Take   up   the   white   man's   burden — 

Send  forth  the  best  ye  breed — 
Go,  bind  your  sons  to  exile. 

To  serve  a  brother's  need; 
To  wait  in  heavy  harness, 

On  fluttered  folk  and  wild — 
Your  new-caught,  sullen  peoples, 

Half  devil,  and  half  child. 

"Take  up   the   white  man's   burden. 

In  patience  to  abide; 
To  veil  the  threat  of  terror, 

And  check  the  show  of  pride; 
By  open  speech  and  simple. 

An  hundred  times  made  plain, 
To  seek  another's  profit. 

And    work    another's    gtain." 

— Rudyard  Kipling. 


194  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


CAROLINE   CHILDS  VAN   DUSEN. 


Mrs.  Caroline  Childs  Van  Dusen  was  the  daughter  of 
Lloyd  and  Amy  Childs.  She  was  born  September  3,  1825, 
in  Wayne  country,  New  York.  Her  father  was  a  farmer. 
When  she  was  about  6  years  old  her  parents  moved  to, 
and  sttled  in,  Michigan,  then  a  new  country.  In  1845, 
at  the  age  of  twenty,  she  was  married  to  Mr.  Adam  Van 
Dusen,  who  was  of  German  descent. 

Mr.  Van  Dusen's  health  not  being  good  in  Michigan  he 
decided  to  emigrate  to  Oregon,  and  his  young  wife,  being 
of  pioneer  stock,  was  pleased  with  the  idea.  Judge  Aaron 
E.  Wait,  a  cousin  of  Mrs.  Van  Dusen,  then  a  prominent 
young  attorney,  had  made  up  his  mind  to  go  West,  so  they 
joined  forces,  and  provided  themselves  with  a  wagon,  five 
yoke  of  oxen,  one  horse  and  a  good  milch  cow.  This  wagon 
differed  from  most  wagons,  in  that  it  had  a  deep  bed  in 
which  was  placed  all  their  provisions  for  the  six-months' 
trip.  Across  the  wagon-bed  projections  were  placed,  wid- 
ening it  out  sufficiently  to  admit  of  beds  being  made  cross- 
wise of  the  wagon.  Judge  Wait's  bed  was  in  the  front 
end ;  there  a  curtain  formed  a  partition.  On  the  center 
cross-piece  w^as  placed  a  little  round  sheet-iron  stove,  about 
the  size  of  a  three-gallon  bucket,  with  a  little  tea-kettle, 
boiler  and  frying  pan.  On  this  little  stove  cooking  was 
done  with  great  ease  and  satisfaction.  Mrs.  Van  Dusen 
says  that  many  times  she  sat  in  her  cosy  kitchen  on  wheels 
and  cleaned  and  cooked  a  bird  while  the  wagon  moved 
along.  On  cold  nights  their  little  stove  made  their  house 
very  comfortable.  They  had  also  a  little  churn  in  their 
kitchen.     The  milk  was  placed  in  the  churn  each  morning, 


Some  of  Her  Lifi':  Experiences.  195 

and  the  motion  of  the  wagon  churned  it,  so  that  every 
evening  they  had  fresh  butter.  In  this  way  one  cow  fur- 
nished them  with  sweet  milk,  buttermilk  and  butter,  daily. 
Mrs.  Van  Dusen  says  she  really  enjoyed  the  trip  very 
much  indeed.  Their  old  friend,  the  late  Judge  Columbia 
Lancaster,  had  an  outfit  similar  to  theirs.  These  two  teams 
left  Michigan  March  4,  1847,  to  join  the  emigration  of  that 
year  at  St.  Joseph's  river.  On  leaving  St.  Joseph's  their 
company  consisted  of  forty-eight  wagons,  with  Wm.  Meek 
employed  as  a  guide.  Our  wagons  were  called  the  "steam- 
boat wagons,"  on  account  of  their  having  the  little  stove- 
pipes passing  up  through  the  top  covers.  We  also  had  a 
tin  reflector  for  baking  bread.  There  were  many  excellent 
people  in  the  company,  two  young  ladies  of  which  I  re- 
member especially,  a  Miss  Clum,  and  a  Miss  Rollston. 
Miss  Rollston's  step-mother,  Mrs.  Rollston,  gave  birth  to 
a  baby  boy  while  crossing  the  Platte  river.  The  baby  was 
named  Platte.  Unfordable  rivers  were  crossed  in  the  usual 
pioneer  way,  by  turning  a  wagon-bed  into  a  ferry-boat. 
Strife  and  dissension  occurred  in  the  company,  causing  it 
to  break  up  into  sections  that  would  separate,  and  occasion- 
ally unite  again  as  we  traveled  along  until  we  reached 
Fort  Hall.  Here  a  part  of  our  section  decided  to  go  to 
California,  the  other  part  to  Oregon.  Judge  Lancaster  and 
family  were  our  only  traveling  companions  from  Fort  Hall 
to  Oregon  City. 

As  we  progressed  our  oxen  grew  thin,  grass  being  scarce. 
Some  days  we  were  compelled  to  travel  all  day  without 
finding  any  feed  for  our  cattle,  but  we  pushed  along,  finally 
reaching  the  Cascade  mountains.  In  climbing  a  very  long, 
and  steep  mountain  in  the  Cascade  range,  our  team  was, 
as  usual,  doubled  up  with  Judge  Lancaster's,  to  take  his 
wagon  up  first.  This  left  my  husband  and  myself  alone 
at  the  foot  of  the  mountain.  Shortly  after  two  Indians 
came   riding  up   at   full   speed.      They   stopped  beside   our 


196  Dk.  Owens  -  Adair. 

wagon  and  looked  us  over,  talking  among  themselves.  We 
were  much  frightened,  but  pretended  to  be  very  brave,  Mr. 
Van  Dusen  having  his  pistol  and  knives  in  his  belt  and 
plenty  of  guns  strapped  on  the  wagons,  which  we  exam- 
ined, walking  around  and  talking.  At  last  the  Indians 
turned  their  horses  and  rode  away  at  full  speed.  In  about 
an  hour  they  returned  and  went  through  the  same  per- 
formance, and  left  us  again.  To  our  great  relief  we  saw 
no  more  of  them.  Shortly  after  this  Judge  Wait  returned 
with  the  teams  to  take  our  wagon  up  the  mountain. 

On  the  Barlow  road,  in  sight  of  Mount  Hood,  we  had 
several  heavy  rains,  making  the  road  very  slippery.  Late 
one  evening  our  wagon  upset  for  the  second  time  that  day, 
and  as  our  cattle  had  found  nothing  to  eat  all  that  day  the 
men  had  to  leave  the  wagon  on  its  side  and  go  ahead  with 
the  cattle  in  search  of  grass.  We  got  out  a  few  bed- 
clothes, made  a  big  fire,  and  sat  up  nearly  all  night.  We 
could  hear  the  brush  crackling  and  the  wild  animals 
screaming  during  the  night.  I  suppose  our  fire  kept  them 
from  attacking  us.  The  next  morning  the  men  brought 
the  cattle  back  without  having  found  anything  for  them 
to  eat,  and  we  pushed  on  until  late  in  the  evening,  when 
we  fortunately  found  grass. 

We  soon  reached  Oregon  City,  and  put  up  at  the  Barlow 
Hotel.  Having  arranged  my  toilet  and  put  on  a  new  calico 
dress,  I  went  in  to  supper,  and  everybody  declared  I  could 
not  have  just  crossed  the  plains,  for  I  was  not  tanned  a  bit. 
After  a  few  days  we  went  to  the  private  boarding  house 
of  Mrs.  Hood,  and  soon  after  that  we  found  a  house 
which  we  rented  for  the  winter.  Early  in  the  spring  of 
'48  we  prepared  to  move  down  the  river.  About  this 
time  our  late  governor,  George  L.  Curry,  was  expecting 
to  marry  Aliss  Boone.  Mr.  Van  Dusen  sold  Mr.  Curry  his 
dress  suit,  and  I  sold  Miss  Boone  my  wedding  bonnet,  a 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences,  197 

lovely  little  bonnet  of  the  gypsy  style.  They  were  mar- 
ried, and  took  our  house  for  their  first  home. 

Mr.  Van  Dusen  had  already  been  down  to  Astoria  and 
taken  up  a  land  claim  on  the  Wallacut  river,  now  owned  by 
Mr.  H.  S.  Gile.  When  we  reached  Astoria  we  decided 
to  give  up  the  Wallacut  claim,  and  take  up  one  on  the  west 
side  of  Young's  Bay,  in  Oregon,  and  we  located  on  the 
place  now  known  as  ''Sunnymead"  farm,  and  owned  by 
Colonel  and  Dr.  Adair.  Their  home  stands  just  where 
our  little  log  cabin  stood  in  1849.  We  lived  on  this  place 
one  year,  planting  and  raising  a  garden,  principally  pota- 
toes. The  winter  of  1849  was  extremely  long  and  cold. 
Adair  creek,  in  which  we  kept  our  boat,  which  was  a  large 
one,  became  frozen  up,  and  we  did  not  see  a  human  face 
for  six  weeks. 

Early  one  Sunday  morning  our  dog  barked,  and  Mr. 
Van  Dusen  got  up  quickly,  to  find  the  old  chief,  Walluski, 
standing  at  our  door.  Chief  Walluski  was  then  living  on 
Smith's,  or  Taylor's,  Point,  just  across  the  bay  from  us. 
He  came  across  in  a  little  duck  canoe,  to  the  west  side,  and 
walked  up  on  the  ice.  He  told  us  that  he  had  been  watch- 
ing for  smoke  from  our  cabin  for  several  days,  and,  seeing 
none,  thought  we  must  be  "memaloosed"  (dead),  so  he 
came  to  see.  We  invited  him  to  breakfast  with  us,  and 
showed  him  every  respect.  I  remember  this  happened  two 
weeks  before  Christmas,  and  the  chief  said  that  if  the  ice 
remained  until  Christmas  he  would  come  and  take  us  to 
Astoria. 

He  came,  as  he  promised,  and  took  us  across  the  bay 
in  his  big  canoe.  We  remained  in  Astoria  two  weeks  and 
then  our  friends  took  us  safely  home  in  a  large  boat. 

This  one  year  was  long  enough  for  us  on  the  land  claim, 
so  in  the  spring  of  '49  we  moved  to  Astoria.  At  this  time 
there  were  but  two  frame  houses  in  Astoria — Mr.  Welcli's 
and  Mr.  David  Ingalls',    We  moved  into  one  of  the  Shark 


198  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

houses,  that  stood  near  where  the  Parker  House  now 
stands,  in  Astoria.  These  houses  were  buih  by  the  men 
from  the  wrecked  vessel  "Shark." 

Mr.  Van  Dusen  had  to  split  out  boards  for  roofing  and 
chinking"  this  house.  We  had  no  furniture,  except  what 
we  made  ourselves.  Our  bedstead  was  made  by  boring 
three  holes  into  the  logs  of  the  wall  into  which  end  and 
side  rails  were  driven  and  fastened  to  one  large  log  on  the 
floor.  We  were  very  thankful,  however,  for  this  humble 
home,  and  soon  made  it  cosy  and  comfortable. 

About  this  time  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Truman  P.  Powers  ar- 
rived in  Astoria,  and  we  gave  them  house-room  for  the 
use  of  their  cook  stove.  We  partitioned  our  house  by  the 
use  of  "clisquises"  (mats),  purchased  from  the  Indians. 
These  mats  were  very  nice  and  pretty,  being  made  from 
dried  tules,  from  three  to  five  feet  wide  and  varying  lengths. 

Many  Indians  were  camped  on  the  hills  near  our  house, 
and  they  seemed  to  keep  up  an  incessant  howling.  As  Sally, 
their  queen,  was  very  sick,  they  constantly  made  night 
hideous  with  their  medicine  performances.  The  queen's 
slaves  were  in  mortal  terror  lest  she  should  die,  and  they 
be  buried  alive  with  her,  according  to  tribal  custom.  I 
became  so  familiar  with  their  peculiar  and  varied  music 
that  I  might  have  excelled  as  one  of  their  magicians.  Our 
house  stood  near  a  little  bay,  the  front  of  the  house  being 
three  or  four  feet  above  the  ground ;  frequently  a  number 
of  Indians  would  come  over  from  Chinook,  landing  in 
the  bay,  then,  coming  up  to  the  house,  stand  around  the  fire 
to  dry  out  and  get  warm. 

They  often  slept  under  the  house,  and  one  night  an  In- 
dian baby  was  born  under  there. 

The  following  incident  might  be  of  interest:  I  was  al- 
ways very  handy  with  my  needle,  and  had  made  me  a  pretty 
hood,  quilting  it  very  nicely.  Mrs.  B.  C.  Kindred  was 
visiting  me  one  day,  and,  seeing  this  hood,  offered  me  five 


SoMi^  oi'  Mki^  T.ri'i':  Extrriknces,  11)9 

poniuls  of  butter  if  I  would  make  her  one  like  it.  I  made 
the  hood.  I'ntter  was  then  25  cents  a  pound.  Time  passed, 
and  we  built  us  a  comfortable  home  in  Uppertown  (Adair's 
Astoria),  and  here,  in  1852,  I  was  keeping  boarders.  By 
this  time  the  California  gold  mines  had  made  money  very 
plntiful,  and  produce  of  all  kinds  very  high.  One 
day  Mr,  Kindred  called  and  said :  "Well,  I  think  it  is 
about  time  we  were  paying  for  that  hood.  How  much  is 
it?"  I  said,  "Five  pounds  of  butter."  He  replied,  "Well, 
butter  was  25  cents  a  pound  then,  while  it  is  worth  a  dol- 
lar and  a  half  a  pound  now."  "Yes,"  I  said,  "but  the  price 
was  five  pounds  of  butter."  He  laughed,  and  paid  the  five 
pounds  of  butter. 

Mr.  Van  Dusen  was  the  first  person  in  Astoria  to  sell 
goods  from  shelves,  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  always 
having  sold  their  goods  from  boxes. 

My  first  child,  Seth,  died  in  infancy.  The  next  was 
Florence,  born  Noveml*er  6,  1851 ;  then  Cara,  born  Jan- 
uary 20,  1854;  Brenham,  April  16,  1856;  Hustler  G.,  Oc- 
tober 3,  1858;  Lloyd,  August  29,  1860,  and  Mary  Amy, 
May  2,  1863. 

Mrs.  Florence  Westdahl  and  Mrs.  Mary  Mcintosh  live 
in  Oakland,  California,  and  Mrs.  Cara  Trenchard,  Bren- 
ham, and  Hustler  G.,  and  their  families,  live  in  Astoria, 
Oregon. 

The  above  story  is  given  as  told  by  Mrs.  Van  Dusen.  and 
is  of  great  interest,  as  coming  from  one  of  the  very  few 
living  actors  in  the  tragic  times  of  our  state's  pioneer  his- 
tory. In  later  years,  about  1862,  Mr.  Van  Dusen  moved 
his  family  down  to  their  beautiful  modern  home,  built  a 
little  east  of  the  original  Fort  Astor.  This  delightful  home 
at  once  became  the  most  prominent  house  in  Astoria,  and 
here  this  worthy  family  cordially  and  generously  enter- 
tained their  hosts  of  friends,  including  many  prominent 
visitors  to  this  Far- Western  city. 


200  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

Although  Mr.  Van  Dusen's  hospitable  and  genial  pres- 
ence is  missed  from  around  the  family  table,  his  charming 
widow  still  lives  in  her  lovely  home,  surrounded  by  chil- 
dren and  grandchildren,  as  well  as  hosts  of  friends,  who 
appreciate  and  delight  to  do  her  honor,  for  her  true  and 
inestimable  worth.  Her  days  are  much  occupied  with  her 
children  and  grandchildren,  yet  she  finds  time  to  devote 
to  church  and  charity,  and  is  a  pillar  of  strength  in  all 
good  works. 

"Her  air,  her  smile,  her  motions  told 

Of  womanly  completeness ; 
A  music  as  of  household  songs 

Was  in  her  voice  of  sweetness. 

"An  inborn  grace  that  nothing  lacked 

Of  culture  or  appliance — 
The  warmth  of  genial  courtesy, 

The  calm  of  self-reliatice." 

ESTHER  d'aRMON  TAYLOR. 

Mrs.  Esther  D'Armon  Taylor,  daughter  of  Esther  and 
Samuel  D'Armon,  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, July  17,  1823. 

Her  parents  moved  to  Ohio  when  she  was  but  a  child, 
and  there,  in  1839,  she  married  James  Taylor.  They  made 
a  home  in  Kalida,  and  two  children  were  born  to  them 
there,  the  eldest  dying  when  but  two  years  old.  In  1844 
there  was  much  talk  of  the  great  country  on  the  Northwest 
coast,  and  Mr.  Taylor  decided  to  join  the  emigration  of 
the  next  season,  and  to  take  the  long  trip  across  the  plains. 
This  he  did  for  the  love  of  adventure,  and  also  for  the 
benefit  of  his  health,  which  at  that  time  had  been 
greatly  impaired.  He  expected  to  leave  his  wife  and  infant 
daughter  in  Ohio  until  his  return,  or  at  least  until  he  had 
seen  what  this  far-off  land  was  like;  but  Mrs.  Taylor  would 


Some  of  IIkk  Liffc  Expkriences.  201 

not  listen  to  this  plan,  and  insisted  that  she  was  quite  as 
able  and  ready  to  go  as  he.  vSo  they  made  all  arrange- 
ments, leaving  Lima,  Ohio,  March  G,  1845,  for  Indepen- 
dence, Missouri,  where  their  company  was  forming.  They 
left  Independence  May  10,  and  arrived  in  Oregon  City  on 
the  10th  of  the  following  October,  after  an  exceedingly 
pleasant  journey  across  the  plains. 

Mrs.  Taylor  was  then  just  21.  They  experienced  many 
hardships  and  privations,  but  Mrs.  Taylor  was  always 
cheerful  and  hopeful,  and  quite  enjoyed  the  long  journey. 

She  was  often  heard  to  say  in  later  years  that  the  months 
spent  on  the  road  were  among  the  happiest  of  her  life.  The 
last  week  of  their  journey  came  near  being  a  very  disastrous 
one.  They  were  caught  in  the  snow  in  the  Cascade  moun- 
tains and  feared  that  they  would  not  be  able  to  get  their 
teams  through  that  winter,  so  it  was  decided  that  Mr. 
Taylor  should  take  the  women  and  children  of  the  party 
and  push  on  through  to  Oregon  City.  They  were  to  take 
a  shorter  trail,  where  the  wagons  could  not  pass,  and  ex- 
pected to  get  through  in  two  or  three  days.  But  it  took 
them  much  longer,  and  their  provisions  gave  out,  leaving 
them  for  several  days  almost  entirely  without  food.  Fortu- 
nately they  reached  the  settlement  before  they  suffered  more 
than  severe  hunger.  The  most  discouraging  time  for  the  pio- 
neers was  after  they  had  reached  the  end  of  their  long 
journey,  when  they  expected  to  find  some  of  the  comforts 
of  civilization. 

Mrs.  Taylor  was  often  heard  to  say  that  she  was  more 
homesick  that  first  winter  than  at  any  time  on  the  long 
journey,  or  in  all  the  years  afterward,  and  that  many 
times  she  wished  herself  out  on  the  plains  again. 

That  first  year  Avas  spent  in  Oregon  City.  In  1846 
Colonel  Taylor  bought  a  tract  of  land  on  Clatsop  Plains, 
and  early  the  following  spring  he  moved  his  family  there. 
They  built  the  first  frame  house  in  that  new   settlement, 


202  Dr.  Owens -Adair. 

and  it  was  their  home  till  the  breaking  out  of  the  Cayuse 
Indian  war,  in  1847,  when  they  went  back  to  Oregon  City, 
and  Colonel  Taylor,  leaving  his  family  there,  pushed  on 
and  joined  the  volunteer  troops  then  in  the  field.  They 
continued  to  live  in  Oregon  City  for  a  number  of  years, 
but  returned  to  their  home  on  Clatsop  Plains  in  1850.  Then 
their   eldest   son,   the   third    child,   died. 

Mrs.  Taylor  was  always  energetic,  and  interested  in 
every  good  movement.  Although  not  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  at  that  time,  no  one  was  more  inter- 
ested in  the  building  of  that  little  church  on  Clatsop,  which 
was  really  the  first  Presbyterian  church  in  Oregon.  After 
Astoria  became  a  port  of  entry  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Taylor  moved 
there,  where  they  resided  until  Mrs.  Taylor's  death,  October 
23,  1893. 

Mrs.  Taylor  was  a  thorough  pioneer,  fond  of  excitement, 
and  ready  for  any  emergency.  Although  suffering  much 
from  ill-health,  and  with  many  family  cares  and  privations 
incidental  to  pioneer  life,  she  was  always  ready  to  help 
others  and  to  make  and  enjoy  every  pleasure  to  be  gotten 
out  of  life. 

The  above  sketch  was,  at  my  request,  furnished  me  by 
one  of  Mrs.  Taylor's  daughters,  and,  though  it  is  true 
in  every  particular,  I  feel  that  much  more  should  be  said 
of  that  beautiful,  and  in  every  way  excellent  woman — so 
well  do  I  remember  her  myself  in  my  early  girlhood. 

How  ardently  I  admired  her  then !  Tall,  slender  and 
graceful,  with  dark,  sparkling  eyes,  and  rich,  black  hair,  her 
every  movement  was  grace  itself.  Her  home  was  always 
the  perfection  of  order  and  neatness,  and  she  was  hos- 
pitable and  generous  at  all  times  and  under  all  circumstances. 
I  speak  from  personal  knowledge,  as  our  pioneer  homes 
were  adjoining  farms  on  Clatsop  Plains.  Her  daughter 
has  truly  said :  "Mother  was  always  energetic  in  all  good 
movements."     She  was,  indeed,  a  type  of  noble  American 


Some  of  Her  Life  Exi-ekiences.  203 

womanhood,  an  admirable"  example  most  worthy  to  be 
imitated. 

After  movinn;-  to  Astoria,  Colonel  and  Mrs.  Taylor's  home 
became  the  center  of  attraction  for  the  best  society  in  the 
land.  They  entertained  much,  Mrs.  Taylor  always  pre- 
siding with  a  vivacity,  dignity  and  grace  of  manner  that 
made  their  home  altogether  delightful  to  her  family  and 
a  large  circle  of  friends. 

This  eminently  worthy  couple  lived  to  celebrate  their 
golden  wedding,  an  event  long  to  be  remembered,  especially 
by  their  pioneer   friends. 

She  died,  as  she  had  lived,  respected  and  honored  by  all 
who  knew  her.  Surrounded  by  her  loving  husband  and 
cherished  children,  she  breathed  her  last  in  her  beautiful 
Astoria  home.  Some  months  before  her  death,  feling  that 
her  lease  of  life  was  uncertain,  with  her  husband  she  selected 
the  spot  that  should  be  their  resting  place — in  the  beauti- 
ful "old  Clatsop  cemetery,"  near  where  stood  the  first  Pres- 
byterian church  in  Oregon.  Here  Mrs.  Taylor  was  laid  to 
rest  by  tender  and  loving  hands.  She  was  soon  followed 
by  the  devoted  husband,  who  had  honored  and  blessed  her 
throughout  her  long  and  useful  life. 

There,  side  by  side,  these  noble  old  pioneers  sleep  the 
last  sleep,  within  sound  of  the  grand  old  Pacific,  whose 
never-ending  music  they  loved  so  well. 

"Her  queenly  form  was  such  an  one 

As  painters  love  to  trace. 
With  raven  hair,  and  deep,  dark  eyes, 

And   steps   of   royal   grace. 

"An  inborn   charm   of   graciousness 
Made  sweet  her  smile  and  tone ; 

And  glorified  her  simplest  dress 
With  beauty  not  its  own." 


204  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

The  surviving  children  of  Colonel  and  Mrs.  Taylor  are 
lone  E.  White,  widow  of  the  late  Captain  J.  W.  White,  of 
the  United  States  revenue  service,  Oakland,  California; 
Edward  A.  Taylor,  ex-collector  of  United  States  customs 
at  Astoria;  Judge  F.  J.  Taylor,  present  mayor  of  Astoria, 
and  a  prominent  attorney  of  that  city;  Mary,  wife  of  Mr. 
Fred.  R.  Strong,  so  well  and  favorably  known  as  a  lead- 
ing lawyer  of  Portland,  Oregon;  and  Kate,  wife  of  Mr. 
George  Taylor,  one  of  Portland's  most  worthy  merchants, 
of  the  firm  Taylor,  Young  &  Co. 


Nancy  Dickenson  Welch 
Pioneer  of  1S44 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  205 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


MRS.   NANCY   WELCH. 


Yesterday  afternoon  at  two  o'clock  all  that  was  mortal  of 
the  late  Mrs.  Nancy  Welch  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  family 
vault  in  Hillside  Cemetery.  The  funeral  cortege  was  the 
largest  ever  assembled  in  this  city,  over  one  thousand  per- 
sons paying  this  last  tribute  of  respect  to  the  lady  pioneer  of 
Astoria. 

The  funeral  took  place  from  the  large  family  residence, 
corner  Fifteenth  street  and  Franklin  avenue,  and  the  exten- 
sive grounds  which  surround  the  house  were  packed  with 
mourning  friends.    The  services  were  conducted  by  the  Rev. 

E.  S.  Bollinger,  pastor  of  the  First  Congregational  Church, 
of  which  Mrs.  Welch  had  been  a  member  for  many  years. 
The  genuine  sorrow  at  the  loss  of  this  pioneer  lady  defies  de- 
scription. After  a  useful  life  of  78  years,  Mrs.  Welch  has 
now  reached  the  home  on  high,  lamented  by  an  entire  city. 

The  following  gentlemen  acted  as  pall-bearers :     Mayor 

F.  J.  Taylor,  W.  W.  Parker,  C.  S.  Wright,  R.  C.  Carruthers, 
John  Montgomery,  S.  T.  McKean,  John  Davidson,  Dr.  A.  L. 
Fulton,  Frank  L.  Parker,  Captain  Hobson,  H.  G.  VanDusen, 
J.  H.  D.  Gray  and  William  B.  Adair.  The  members  of  the 
Oregon  Pioneer  and  Historical  Society  attended  in  a  body, 
and  the  following  beautiful  address  was  delivered  by  request 
by  Judge  Gray,  which  was  written  for  that  organization  by 
Mrs.  Oliva  R.  Welch,  wife  of  Hon.  James  W.  Welch,  of 
Astoria,  the  eldest  son. 

Again  we  are  called  upon  to  perform  the  last  solemn  duty 
that  the  living  owe  the  dead.  It  is  hard  for  us  to  realize  as 
we  now  look  upon  the  serenely  peaceful  face  of  the  dear 
mother  pioneer,  whose  hands  are  quietly  folded  upon  her 


206  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

breast,  that  her  life  work  is  finished,  her  toils  upon  the  earth 
are  done.  But  it  is  true  we  behold  for  the  last  time  all  that 
is  mortal  of  the  faithful,  loving  wife,  mother,  friend  and 
neighbor. 

Nancy  Dickerson  Welch,  who  at  6  :30  p.  m.  on  Tuesday 
evening,  February  11,  1896,  surrendered  this  life  to  the  God 
of  her  fathers,  and  her  body  returns  to  earth  from  whence 
it  came. 

Of  her  we  may  truthfully  say  she  was  indeed  a  typical 
pioneer  woman.  Born  in  the  then  western  wilds  of  the  State 
of  Ohio,  in  Washington  county,  on  the  second  day  of  Janu- 
ary, 1818.  She  was  inured  to  the  privations  and  hardships, 
the  toils  and  dangers  of  the  Ohio  pioneers.  She  lived  with 
her  parents  until  about  twenty  years  of  age,  who  in  the 
meantime  had  moved  into  Iowa,  and  was  then  left  an  orphan 
with  nine  brothers  for  whom  she  thereafter  took  upon  her- 
self the  duties  of  mother  and  housekeeper.  We  have  heard 
from  her  own  words  how  she  performed  the  manifold  duties 
for  that  numerous  family  of  young  brothers,  washing,  iron- 
ing, cooking,  and  with  her  own  hands  weaving  and  fashion- 
ing the  necessary  garments  that  constituted  this  wardrobe, 
and  primitive  though  they  were,  she  would  sew  until  far 
into  the  night,  by  the  light  of  tallow  candles.  Sewing, 
mending,  knitting  and  darning  were  the  necessary  employ- 
ments that  occupied  her  winter  evenings,  and  finding  the 
days  too  short  to  encompass  the  many  more  active  physical 
duties  and  labors  that  fell  to  her  lot.  So  her  busy  life  ran 
along  until  March  12,  1840.  At  Bloomington,  Iowa,  she  was 
married  to  James  Welch,  and  early  in  1843,  they  with  a  num- 
ber of  families,  who  had  heard  of  the  wonders  of  the  far  oflF 
land  of  Oregon,  started  across  the  plains  with  the  slow, 
steady  teams  of  oxen  that  then  took  the  place  of  the  beauti- 
ful palace  cars  of  today.  They  were  compelled  to  tempor- 
arily stop  at  St.  Joe,  Mo.,  during  the  winter  of  1843  and 
1844,  on  account  of  Indian  depredations,  until  the  spring  of 


Some  of  Her  Liii':  Experiences.  20'7 

18  14,  when  ihcy  aj^^ain  resumed  their  journey.  After  \i>ui^^ 
tedious  months  of  journeying,  they  finally  arrived  at  Oregon 
City,  Oregon,  in  Oetober,  1844,  and  in  the  spring  of  184<i, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Welch  came  to  make  a  permanent  home  in  the 
then  trading  post  of  Astoria.  And  thinking  of  the  Astoria 
of  that  time,  we  can  but  wonder  at  the  physical  courage  and 
fortitude,  the  serenity  and  happy  contentment  that  enabled 
her  to  at  once  set  to  work  to  help  her  husband  make  a  home 
on  the  banks  of  the  Oregon,  within  sound  of  the  roar  of  the 
Pacific  Ocean,  with  only  a  few  companionable  people,  sur- 
rounded by  dense  forests,  wild  beasts  and  Indians.  Her  life 
must,  for  many  long  months,  have  been  often  desolate  and 
lonely. 

To  more  fully  illustrate  the  indomitable  courage  of  Mrs. 
Welch  we  will  relate  the  following  incident : 

It  was  the  custom  of  the  Indians  on  the  death  of  a  chief 
or  Indian  of  note  to  bury  their  slaves  with  the  dead.  On 
such  an  occasion,  soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  Welches  in 
Astoria,  a  slave  who  was  to  be  buried  with  her  master  came 
running  to  the  Welch  home  for  protection.  Mrs.  Welch  took 
her  in  and  stood  guard  over  her  and  bravely  refused  to  sur- 
render the  refugee,  after  repeated  demands  of  the  Indians 
thereby  forever  breaking  up  that  barbarous  custom  of  sacri- 
ficing human  life  to  a  superstitious  custom  of  the  Indians  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  River. 

Maany  of  the  necessaries  of  living  were  either  procured  at 
the  Hudson's  Bay  trading  post  at  Oregon  City,  or  at  Van- 
couver, which  was  also  a  Hudson's  Bay  trading  station.  And 
when  we  remember  that  the  journey  to  these  trading  sta- 
tions at  that  early  date  was  made  in  Indian  canoes,  which 
were  hollow^ed  out  from  large  cedar  trees,  and  it  took  from 
three  to  four  weeks  to  make  the  journey,  purchase  supplies 
and  return,  we  may  be  enabled  to  have  a  slight  conception 
of  the  many  vicissitudes,  trials  and  hardships  this  pioneer 
mother  was  called  upon  to  endure.  Surrounded  by  her  young 


208  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

family  of  small  children,  spending  the  weary  days  and  nights 
alone,  while  the  father  was  away  on  those  periodical  jour- 
neys, getting  such  necessities  as  flour  and  general  provisions. 
Oregon  City  then  owned  the  only  flouring  mill  in  this  part 
of  the  Northwest,  being  contiguous  to  the  grain  fields  of  the 
French  Prairie,  the  only  portion  of  the  great  Willamette  val- 
ley settled  at  that  time.  On  one  of  the  periodical  journeys 
made  by  Mr.  Welch  to  Oregon  City,  he  was  detained  many 
days  beyond  the  time  he  intended  staying,  and  from  much 
hard  work  and  exposure,  Mrs.  Welch  was  taken  suddenly  ill, 
having  as  a  companion  her  only  white  woman  friend  and 
neighbor,' Mrs.  Ingalls,  at  whose  death  bed  Mrs.  Welch  hap- 
pened to  be  last  fall  in  the  city  of  Los  Angeles,  Cal,  and 
along  towards  midnight,  notwithstanding  the  exertions  of 
Mrs.  Ingalls,  Mrs.  Welch  sunk  away  into  a  comatose  condi- 
tion. Just  at  this  critical  juncture,  Mr.  W.  H.  Gray,  the 
honored  pioneer,  being  the  only  acting  physician  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Columbia,  there  being  no  other  physician  nearer 
than  Vancouver,  came,  whether  by  accident  (to  stay  over  the 
night  with  his  friends  as  was  the  custom  in  those  early 
times)  or  not,  the  writer  cannot  now  call  to  mind;  but  at  all 
events  Mr.  Gray  had  with  him  his  medical  case,  and  after 
being  informed  by  Mrs.  Ingalls  that  her  friend  was  gone 
across  that  bourne  from  whence  no  traveler  returns,  Mr.  Gray 
immediately  went  vigorously  to  work  with  the  stimulants 
he  had  at  hand,  and  with  the  aid  of  hot  applications  and 
much  rubbing  of  tlie  feet  and  hands,  they  were  at  last  re- 
warded by  returning  consciousness.  Mrs.  Welch  has  related 
this  incident  to  the  writer,  and  spoke  with  much  feeling  of 
gratitude  of  the  manly,  noble  pioneer  who  saved  her  life  to 
her  family,  for  many  years  after  he  was  laid  away  to  rest. 

Mrs.  Welch  was  posseessed  of  a  rare  physical  and  moral 
courage,  traits  that  many  of  those  hardy  pioneers  were  en- 
dowed with,  a  moral  courage  that  was  so  great  that  it  pre- 
cluded any  shadow  of  cant,  hypocrisy  or  deception.     She 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  209 

wore  upon  her  brow  tlirouj^hout  a  long  life  of  arduous  cluties 
trials  and  temptations,  the  insignia  of  moral  worth  and 
womanly  purity,  the  brightest  jewel  in  the  crown  of  life.  She 
was  a  woman  who  was  true  to  herself,  and  it  naturally  fol- 
lowed, as  the  night  follows  the  day,  she  was  true  to  others. 
In  relating  the  many  hardships  incident  to  her  early  life, 
there  was  never  a  shadow  of  self-pity,  never  a  thought  of 
what  might  have  been,  only  a  womanly,  noble,  self-reliant 
feeling  that  her  duty  had  always  been  done  as  best  she  knew. 

I  cannot  close  these  necessarily  few  and  meager  reminis- 
cences without  alluding  to  her  eminently  patriotic  love  for 
her  own  adopted  Oregon.  In  the  fall  of  1894  Mrs.  Welch, 
in  company  with  her  youngest  daughter,  for  the  first  time 
in  all  these  years  visited  the  scenes  of  her  early  life.  Visited 
her  only  surviving  brother  in  Iowa,  and  attended  the  great 
world's  exposition  in  Chicago,  which  she  greatly  enjoyed. 
But  she  returned  to  her  dear  adopted  home  in  Oregon,  happy 
and  grateful  in  the  thought  that  her  home,  as  she  expressed 
it,  was  in  the  best  part  of  God's  world.  She  saw  no  place,  that 
she  thought  equalled  the  evergreen  carpeted  Oregon.  In 
October  last  she  went  for  a  few  weeks'  sojourn  to  her  sister 
state,  California,  and  although  she  appreciated  the  many 
beautiful  semi-tropical  scenes  of  Southern  California,  she 
again  returned  to  her  home,  filled  with  thankful  gratitude  to 
her  Maker  that  her  life  had  been  spared  to  again  enjoy  the 
dear  loved  scenes,  every  one  of  which  the  tendrils  of  her 
heart  were  closely  woven  about.  She  spoke  to  us  of  the  great 
enjoyment  it  was  to  again  behold  the  beautiful  green  grasses 
and  the  evergreen  trees  of  Oregon. 

So  we  will  lay  her  to  rest  'midst  the  scenes  that  she  loved, 
near  the  beautiful  evergreen  trees  that  will  evermore  sing 
soft,  sweet  requiem  luUabys  as  they  wave  their  arms  gently 
to  and  fro,  as  though  showering  heaven's  best  blessings  o'er 
the  beautiful  earth  which  is  the  mother  of  us  all.  And  those 
of  us  who  are  left  behind  for  a  little  while  can  have  a  grate- 


210  De.  Owens  -  Adair. 

fill  comfort  in  knowing  that  the  spirit  that  erstwhile  illum- 
ined this  body  has  gone  again  into  the  loving  arms  of  the 
Father  of  us  all. 

"A  full,  rich  nature,  free  to  trust, 
Truthful,  and  almost  sternly  just. 
Impulsive,  earnest,  prompt  to  act, 
And  make  her  generous  thought  a  fact, 
Keeping,  with  many  a  slight  disguise. 
The  secret  of  self-sacrifice." 

Nancy  Dickerson  Welch  Cabin  No.  6,  Native  Daughters 
of  Oregon,  was  organized  November  9,  1899,  at  Astoria, 
Oregon,  with  twenty-two  charter  members. 

MRS.    POLLY   HICKS    M^'KEAN. 

Polly  Hicks  McKean  was  born  April  24th,  1798,  in  Dela- 
ware county,  New  York.  She  married  Samuel  Terry  Mc- 
Kean March  9th,  1817. 

After  living  a  few  years  in  New  York,  they  moved  to 
Ohio,  where  they  lived  till  the  summer  of  1832,  when  they 
made  another  start  west,  at  the  time  Illinois  was  first  open 
to  settlers.  They  stopped  on  the  Illinois  river,  and  laid  out  a 
town,  calling  it  Chillicothe,  after  the  town  they  came  from 
in  Ohio. 

In  1847  they  made  another  move,  west,  in  company  with 
their  two  married  sons.  They  had  eight  children  born  to 
them — five  boys  and  three  girls.  Two  boys  died  while  they 
lived  in  Ohio;  the  rest  all  lived  to  be  grown  and  married. 
They  left  their  old  home  in  Illinois  April  15th,  1847,  with 
four  wagons  and  a  good  many  cattle  and  horses,  to  start  on 
the  long  and  tedious  journey  across  the  plains  to  Oregon. 
They  stopped  the  first  winter  at  the  falls  of  the  Willamette, 
opposite  Oregon  City,  where  they  arrived  in  November, 
having  stopped  at  Vancouver,  which  was  then  in  the  hands 


Some  of  IIkk  1.ii-k  Experiences.  211 

of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  for  a  couple  of  weeks.  In 
February,  18-18,  they  moved  down  the  Willamette  to  a  place 
called  Linton,  where  there  were  a  few  little  houses.  In  Sep- 
tember of  the  same  year  they  ])ut  what  household  goods  they 
had  left,  after  the  Indian  Whitman  troubles,  on  board  a 
scow-schooner,  called  the  "Calapooia,"  and  came  down  to 
Astoria. 

Resided  in  Astoria  until  18G4,  when  she,  her  husband  and 
youngest  daughter,  then  unmarried,  moved  to  San  Jose, 
California. 

Her  two  married  sons  had  preceded  them  to  CaHfornia, 
and  for  a  number  of  years  she  resided  with  one  or  the  other 
of  them  at  or  near  San  Jose. 

After  the  death  of  her  husband,  which  occurred  near  San 
Jose,  February  12th,  1873,  she  continued  to  live  with  her 
eldest  son  for  a  time,  and  afterward  with  her  son-in-law, 
Mr.  J.  M.  Battee,  of  San  Jose.  She  survived  her  husband 
four  years,  and  died  April  15th,  1877,  while  on  a  visit  to  her 
daughter,  Mrs.  Eliza  Hustler,  at  Astoria,  Oregon. 

It  is  difficult  to  describe  or  estimate  such  a  life  and  char- 
acter as  hers.  So  quiet  and  unassuming,  creating  no  stir  in 
the  world,  not  differing  greatly  from  thousands  of  W'Omen, 
especially  during  the  early  and  middle  part  of  this  century, 
and  yet  she  possessed  strong  individualit}^  and  independence 
of  mind.  Never  robust  in  body,  with  limited  education  and 
opportunities,  she  was  looked  up  to  and  loved,  not  alone  by 
the  members  of  her  family,  but  by  all  wuth  whom  she  came 
in  contact.  She  had  no  patience  with  cant  or  h3'pocrisy  in 
any  form,  did  not  believe  much  in  secret  societies,  her  creed 
consisting  principally  in  doing  good  when  and  w^here  and  to 
whom  you  can.  As  a  parent  she  was  devoted  and  self-sacri- 
ficing, perhaps  too  indulgent,  but  always  endeavoring  to 
instill  in  her  children  habits  of  industry,  temperance  and 
independence.  She  seemed  to  realize  more  fully  than  most 
persons  the  futility  of  looking  to  others   for  help   in  the 


212  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

various  difficulties  of  life,  and  that  to  attain  success  at  all 
one  must  be  self-reliant  and  persevering. 

Withal,  she  was  very  charitable  toward  others'  faults,  and 
no  child  or  person  in  trouble  ever  went  to  her  in  vain  for 
sympathy  or  such  help  as  she  could  give. 

"For  all  her  quiet  life  flowed  on 
As  meadow  streamlets  flow. 
Where  fresher  green  reveals,  alone. 
The  noiseless  ways  they  go." 


Some  of  1Ji:k  Liiii  Exi-iiKiiiNCES.  213 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

MRS.    RACHEL    MYLAR    KINDRED. 

Mrs.  Rachel  Mylar  Kindred  was  born  in  Kentucky  in 
1821,  and  is  the  great-grand-niece  of  the  celebrated  Daniel 
Boone.  Like  her  illustrious  ancestor,  her  life  has  been  filled 
with  deeds  of  courage  and  endurance.  And  now,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  76,  she  is  still  vigorous,  both  in  mind  and 
body.  Her  household  and  farm  are  under  her  immedate  di- 
rection and  control,  and  are  well  and  systematically  man- 
aged. 

While  a  young  girl,  Miss  Rachel  Mylar  moved,  with  her 
parents,  to  Missouri,  and  there  met  and  married  Mr.  B.  C. 
Kindred,  in  1841.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kindred,  with  their  baby 
boy,  Henry  (since  so  well  known  as  Capt.  Henry  Kindred), 
joined  the  emigration  of  1844.  Mr.  Kindred's  team  became 
nearly  exhausted  before  reaching  the  summit  of  the  Blue 
Mountains,  and  Mrs.  Kindred  was  compelled  to  complete 
most  of  the  remaining  journey  on  foot.  Her  shoes  and  stock- 
ings soon  gave  out,  and  her  clothes  became  thin  and  ragged. 
Thus,  with  bare  feet,  bruised  and  swollen,  and  with  sun- 
burned face,  arms  and  hands,  she  toiled  on,  always  preparing 
the  meals,  and  assisting  her  husband  in  every  possible  way. 
This  long  and  tedious  journey  was  completed  December  24th, 
1844,  when  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kindred  reached  Oswego,  on  the 
Willamette  river,  near  Portland,  Oregon.  Here  they  pitched 
their  tent  and  unloaded  their  scanty  provisions.  The  next 
evening  Mrs.  Kindred  was  presented  with  her  first  Christ- 
mas gift  in  Oregon — a  fine,  large,  healthy  baby  boy,  whom 
she  called  James.  This  son  is  still  living,  and  has  been  a 
blessing  to  his  mother  in  many  ways.  At  the  death  of  his 
first  wife  he  gave  his  mother  his  baby  girl,  Gussie,  whom 


214  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

Mrs.  Kindred  has  reared  from  babyhood.  She  is  now  a- 
strong,  healthy  woman,  and  a  devoted  and  loving  grand- 
daughter. 

During  the  winter  of  1845  Mr.  Kindred  proceeded  down 
the  Columbia  river  to  Clatsop,  and  bought  the  improvements 
on  the  land  now  known  as  Gearhart  Park,  from  a  Mr.  Jerry 
Tuller,  for  which  he  gave  one  yoke  of  oxen. 

On  New  Year's  eve  Mr.  Kindred  and  family  reachd  Capt. 
R.  W.  Morrison's  on  Clatsop  plains,  whre  they  remained  a 
few  days,  and  then  removed  into  their  new  home,  a  little 
log  cabin  10  by  12.  There  they  lived  till  November,  1846, 
when  they  sold  their  improvements  to  a  Mr.  Motley  and 
moved  upon  their  donation  land  claim,  now  know  as  New 
Astoria,  and  Kindred  Park,  where  they  have  since  continued 
to  live.  Here  Mrs.  Kindred  began  in  earnest  to  assist  her 
husband  in  building  their  future  home.  Mr.  Kindred  was 
occupied  in  freighting  between  Astoria,  Portland  and  Ore- 
gon City,  and  of  necessity  was  compelled  to  be  absent  from 
home  most  of  the  time. 

Their  home  was  in  the  midst  of  a  large  settlement  of  In- 
dians, whose  burial  grounds  were  near  by.  To  Mrs.  Kin- 
dred these  were  days  long  to  be  rememberd,  with  three 
small  children,  one  a  babe,  and  only  two  or  three  white  fam- 
ilies for  miles  around,  yet  she  never  faltered.  During  these 
early  and  lonely  days  of  toil  and  hardship  she  had  many  and 
varied  experiences,  among  which  I  will  mention  two. 

Going  down  to  the  beach  in  front  of  her  house  one  day, 
she  found  a  man,  cast  away  on  the  shore,  in  a  helpless  state, 
apparently  about  to  die.  She  got  him  home  to  her  house, 
after  which  she  recognized  him  as  a  discharged  soldier  who 
had  been  living  with  the  Indians.  According  to  their  cus- 
tom, they  had  cast  him  away  when  they  thought  him  dying. 
Mrs.  Kindred  nursed  him  back  through  a  long  illness.  He 
had  no  money,  but  gave  her  a  shotgun  in  payment  for  her 
services.    After  his  recovery,  however,  he  want  back  to  his 


Some  of  Her  Liii'".  Exi'ekiences.  215 

Indian  friends.  He  soon  bej^^an  to  want  his  gun  and,  for- 
getting the  kindness  and  debt  of  gratitude  he  owed  his  kind 
benefactress,  he  went  to  her  house,  in  her  absence,  and  stole 
the  gun.  Mrs.  Kindred  soon  discovered  who  had  taken  the 
gun  and,  taking  her  Httle  son  and  a  Httle  girl  who  was  stay- 
ing with  her,  she  went  straight  tf)  the  chief  and  laid  the  case 
before  him.  The  chief  commanded  the  man  to  deliver  up 
the  gun,  which  he  did  at  once.  The  chief  then  reprimanded 
him  severely  for  what  he  had  done. 

Later  on,  the  schooner  Woodpecker,  loaded  with  flour, 
was  wrecked  on  Clatsop  Spit.  The  settlers,  knowing  that 
she  nnist  soon  go  to  pieces,  set  al>out  trying  to  save  the  flour, 
which  was  at  the  time  worth  $12  a  barrel.  The  weather 
was  unsettled,  and  they  could  work  but  a  short  time  during 
the  last  part  of  the  ebb  tide,  as  the  water  was  breaking  over 
her  most  of  the  time.  On  the  second  day  they  had  only  suc- 
ceeded partially  in  cutting  away  the  hatch,  when  driven 
away  by  a  strong  wind  and  incoming  tide.  They  found  it 
impossible  to  make  a  landing  on  the  beach  and  were  forced 
to  take  refuge  in  Tansy  creek.  Mr.  Kindred  and  his  two 
sons  were  of  the  party,  and  were  congratulating  themselves 
on  having  secured  seven  sacks  of  flour,  and  were  contented 
to  wait  till  the  turn  of  the  tide  and  wind  late  in  the  evening. 
Mrs.  Kindred,  becoming  worried  about  the  nonarrival  of 
■  her  husband  and  boys,  went  down  to  the  beach  to  look  for 
the  boats.  Meantime  the  flood  tide  had  completed  the  work 
begun  by  tlie  men  and  had  broken  up  the  deck  and  floated 
out  the  entire  cargo  of  flour.  When  Mrs.  Kindred  reached 
the  beach  there  was  not  a  boat  in  sight,  but  she  saw  what 
she  said  looked  like  a  large  flock  of  white  birds.  The  tide 
was  bringing  the  Woodpecker's  cargo  ashore.  Airs.  Kin- 
dred understood  the  situation  at  a  glance,  and  did  not  hesi- 
tate one  moment,  but  removing  all  unnecessary  clothing,  she 
waded  in  up  to  her  armpits,  meeting  the  incoming  flour,  and 


216  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

bringing  it  to  shore,  and  then  carrying  it,  sack  by  sack,  to  a 
place  of  safety,  beyond  reach  of  high  tide. 

Hour  after  hour  passed;  still  she  worked,  not  realizing 
fatigue,  so  stimulated  was  she  by  her  success.  Late  in  the 
evening  Mr.  Kindred  and  the  boys  landed  with  their  valuable 
cargo  of  seven  sacks  of  flour,  to  find  360  sacks  landed  and 
stacked  on  the  beach  by  Mrs.  Kindred,  who  was  still  watch- 
ing for  any  stray  sacks  that  might  come  within  her  reach. 

Mrs.  Kindred  is  a  pure  blonde,  below  medium  height, 
with  small  hands  and  feet,  and  when  young  was  quite  slen- 
der. She  is  a  woman  of  strong  principles,  upright  and  just. 
She  has,  all  her  life,  strictly  attended  to  her  own  business, 
and  now,  at  the  age  of  76,  her  mind  is  clear  and  active.  Both 
her  and  Mr.  Kindred's  memory  of  early  events  is  good. 

Six  years  ago  Mrs.  Kindred  sold  her  half  of  their  dona- 
tion land  claim — 320  acres — to  a  syndicate  for  $25,000.  It 
was  platted  and  named  "New  Astoria."  Two  years  ago 
Mr.  Kindred  bonded  his  half  (after  reserving  two  blocks 
upon  which  their  home  stands)  for  $35,000. 

Mrs.  Kindred  is  the  mother  of  twelve  children,  thirty- 
eight  grand-children  and  twelve  great-grand-children,  all  of 
whom  are  residents  of  Clatsop  county  excepting  two. 

MRS.  HANNAH  PEGG  PEASE. 

Mrs.  Pease  says : 

"I  was  born  in  Staffordshire,  England,  September  16th, 
1825,  and  came  to  America  with  my  parents  when  I  was 
four  years  old.  We  were  eleven  weeks  crossing  the  At- 
lantic Ocean.  On  reaching  New  York,  my  parents  settled 
in  New  Jersey,  where  we  lived  eight  years.  Then  we  moved 
to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Jerry  county,  where  I  met  and  mar- 
ried David  E.  Pease,  March  16th,  1845.  Owing  to  ill- 
health,  we  decided  to  move  to  Oregon,  and  therefore  we 
joined  the  immigration  of  1849,  and  started  on  the  first  day 
of  M'arch.     We  had  a  good  trip,  and  no  difficulty  with  the 


Some  of  Hek  Life  Experiences.  217 

Indians,  due  to  the  fact  that  they  had  heard  that  there  was 
a  company  of  soldiers  just  behind  us  on  their  way  to  Orej^on, 

"We  arrived  at  Mr.  Foster's,  at  the  foot  of  the  Cascade 
Mountains,  on  the  Gth  of  September,  1849.  Mr.  Foster 
took  a  crowd  of  us  out  to  his  corn  and  potato  field,  and  we 
all  helped  gather  corn  and  potatoes.  Then  we  went  back 
to  our  camp  and  cooked  them,  and  we  thought  we  had 
never  tasted  such  good  corn  and  potatoes  before. 

"After  reaching  Oregon  City  we  embarked  in  an  Indian 
canoe  for  Astoria,  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Minto,  Mr. 
Judson  and  a  young  man  named  Legrand  Hill.  On  the  way 
down  I  became  so  frightened  that  we  got  on  board  a  vessel 
at  Oak  Point  and  came  on  it  down  to  Astoria.  From  there 
we  went  up  the  Lewis  and  Clarke  river  to  Hunt's  mill,  that 
was  being  built  by  Hunt  and  Judson.  Here  Mr.  Pease  was 
employed  by  Mr.  Judson,  as  were  also  Mr.  Legrand  Hill 
and  Mr.  Isaac,  who  crossed  the  plains  with  us  and  contin- 
ued with  us  through  the  winter.  Mr.  Pease  received  $75 
per  month.  In  the  spring  of  1850  we  moved  to  Lexington, 
near  Skipanon,  and  rented  a  log  house — 24x18 — with  an 
upstairs,  where  we  kept  boarders.  This  house  was  built  by  a 
Red  river  Indian,  on  the  bank  of  the  Skipanon  river,  near 
the  landing,  which  was  then  used  by  all  the  Clatsop  people, 
and  within  fifty  feet  of  where  the  schooner  Pioneer  was  built 
the  year  before  by  Owens,  Tibbetts,  Perry  and  Trask,  and 
commanded  by  Capt.  Robert  McEwan,  who  now  lives  on 
Clatsop. 

"The  Pioneer  was  loaded  principally  by  the  Clatsop  farm- 
ers, and  taken  to  San  Francisco  in  1849.  The  vessel  and 
cargo  was  sold  at  a  great  profit  to  all  concerned.  This 
brought  a  great  deal  of  money  into  Clatsop,  and  people 
were  going  and  coming  to  and  from  the  mines,  which  made 
money  plentiful,  and  everything  brought  high  prices.  So 
we  opened  our  hotel  at  this  thoroughfare.  Butter  cost  $1.50 
per  pound,  $6  per  bushel  for  potatoes,  and  50  cents  a  pound 


218  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

for  sugar  of  the  poorest  quality  that  would  not  be  used  at 
all  nowadays,  and  25  cents  a  pound  for  meat.  We  received 
$1  a  meal  and  $16  per  week  for  board. 

"Later,  we  bought  the  block  on  which  we  lived — one  acre 
—from  Mr.  Wirt,  for  which  we  paid  him  $1200.  In  1853  we 
took  up  a  donation  land  claim,  on  which  a  part  of  Warren- 
ton  now  stands.  We  lived  in  a  little  log  cabiri  near  where 
Mr.  D.  K.  Warren's  handsome  residence  now  stands,  five 
years,  then  moved  back  to  Skipanon  and  bought  Jerry  Tul- 
len's  donation  land  claim,  and  built  the  house  in  which  O.  B. 
Wirt  now  lives,  and  kept  a  livery  stable  for  twenty-two 
years,  running  teams  to  and  from  Seaside  with  freight  and 
passengers. 

"My  husband  was  the  first  postmaster  at  that  place.  He 
received  his  appointment  while  from  home.  He  was  in 
Oregon  City,  disposing  of  his  teams,  and  was  present  at  the 
hanging  of  the  murderers  of  the  Whitman  massacre.  He 
held  the  office  of  postmaster  about  fifteen  years,  and  at  his 
recommendation  the  office  was  called  Skipanon,  and  as  time 
went  on  the  little  town  dropped  its  old  name  of  Lexington 
and  adopted  that  of  the  postoffice.  In  June,  1850,  the  first 
general  election  was  held  at  our  hotel,  and  Mr.  Pease  was 
elected  sheriff.  Also  the  first  court,  as  far  as  I  know,  was 
held  in  September,  1851,  by  Judge  Strong,  in  our  house. 
We  sold  our  old  home  and  part  of  our  buildings  to  C.  A. 
McGuire  in  1879,  and  built  us  a  comfortable  little  home, 
where  I  now  live  with  my  adopted  daughter  and  grand- 
daughter. Here  Mr.  Pease  and  I  celebrated  our  golden 
wedding  anniversary  in  1895.  My  husband  died  in  June, 
1896,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  old  Pioneer  cemetery,  near 
the  first  Presbyterian  church  of  Oregon." 

MRS.    JERUSHA  BRENNAN    WIRT. 

Mrs.  Jerusha  Brennan  Wirt  was  born  in  Indiana  in  1823, 
and  was  married  to  Mr.  A.  C.  Wirt  in  1840.  Mr.  Wirt  was 
born  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  in  1814. 


Some  oi'  Her  Liee  Experiences.  219 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wirt  liA-ed  in  Illinois  until  1843.  Their 
first  child,  Andrew,  was  born  in  October,  1842. 

In  the  spring  of  1843  they  started  for  Oregon.  They 
traveled  as  far  as  Missouri,  and  there  they  wintered.  In 
March  their  daughter,  Annie,  was  born.  A  month  later 
they  joined  the  emigration  of  1844,  under  Capt.  Gilliam,  at 
Independence.  The  company  was  a  large  one,  and  after  a 
few  days  a  section  of  twenty-five  wagons  moved  on  ahead, 
Mr.  Wirt  and  family  among  them.  They  elected  a  Mr.  Bun- 
ton  captain.    No  deaths  or  serious  accidents  occurred. 

On  the  Sweetwater  between  two  and  three  hundred  In- 
dians surrounded  them,  with  drawn  bows  and  arrows,  but 
the  courageous  pioneers  were  ready  for  them.  They  had 
already  secured  their  s<ock  within  the  pioneer  corral  of 
wagons,  and  every  man  stood,  with  rifle  cocked  and  re- 
volver and  knife  at  his  5  ide,  ready  for  the  attack.  No  shots 
were,  however,  exchanged,  as  the  Indians  concluded  it  was 
the  better  part  of  valor  to  withdraw,  which  they  did. 

This  small  company  pushed  forward  and  reached  Port- 
land on  the  10th  of  November,  fifteen  days  in  advance  of 
the  main  company. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wirt  wintered  in  Oregon  City.  Mr.  Wirt 
^ds  a  tailor  by  trade,  but  the  only  job  he  got  was  to  make 
one  blanket  coat. 

During  the  winter  .Mr.  James  W.  Welch,  Mr.  Barton  Lee 
and  Mr.  Wirt  hired  an  Indian  canoe  and  came  down  the 
river  to  Astoria  and  Clatsop  to  look  for  a  place  to  locate. 
Mr.  Welch  located  ni  Astoria,  but  Mr.  Wirt  found  Mr. 
Perry,  an  old  friend,  on  Clatsop,  and  Messrs.  Perry,  Trask 
and  Morrison  offered  to  give  Mr.  Wirt  a  portion  of  their 
claims  if  he  would  locate  and  be  neighbor  to  them.  This 
generous  ofter  was  pccepted,  and  he  at  once  set  about  build- 
ing his  log  cabin,  en  the  same  spot  where  later  the  Rev. 
Lewis  Thompson  built  his  residence. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1845  Mr.  Wirt  employed  Samuel 


220  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

Smith,  better  known  as  "Tickey"  Smith,  to  move  his  fam- 
ily and  effects  to  CI  itsop  in  his  plunger.  Smith  landed  them 
at  the  Indian  settl  iment  where  now  stands  Fort  Stevens. 
From  that  place  Mr.  Trask  moved  them  to  their  new  home 
on  Clatsop  by  an  o  c  team.  ''Tickey "  Smith  lived  on  Smith's 
Point,  now  know  a  5  Taylor's  addition  to  Astoria. 

Smith  took  up  bis  land  as  a  claim,  and  when  the  donation 
land  law  came  into  effect  he  married  the  Indian  woman  with 
whom  he  lived,  to  make  good  his  title.  Later,  Colonel  Tay- 
lor bought  this  land,  for  which  he  gave  about  $700.  Two 
children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wirt  in  their  Clatsop 
home.  In  the  fall  of  '49  Mr.  Wirt  left  his  wife  and  four 
small  children  with  Mrs.  James  Welch  in  Astoria,  and  he 
and  Mr.  Welch  went  to  the  California  gold  mines.  They 
embarked  in  the  old  brig  "Henry,"  which  sailed  from  As- 
toria the  last  week  in  September.  They  lay  in  Baker's  Bay 
(in  sight  of  Astoria)  till  the  ^th  of  November,  over  a 
month,  unable  to  get  to  sea  owing  to  bad  weather.  Mrs. 
Wirt  wrote  to  her  husband  begging  him  to  give  up  the  trip, 
but  he  would  not.  There  were  125  passengers  on  board, 
booked  for  California,  but  twenty-five,  including  Captain 
Kilborn,  became  discouraged  and  deserted  the  ship  and  re- 
turned home  while  she  was  yet  in  Baker's  Bay.  Then  the 
mate,  Mr.  Ray,  took  charge  of  the  ship,  and  after  a  terrible 
trip  of  seventeen  days,  succeeded  in  reaching  San  Francisco 
with  no  loss  of  life.  They  encountered  a  fearful  storm,  in 
which  the  sails  were  blown  to  shreds,  and  the  deck  load  was 
all  lost,  including  many  wagons  and  30  barrels  of  flour.  In 
the  midst  of  the  storm  Captain  Ray  gave  orders  to  throw 
everything  overboard  except  the  two  barrels  of  water.  Mr. 
Wirt  said  that  Mr.  Welch,  who  was  a  giant  in  strength, 
being  six  feet  tall  and  weighing  over  200  pounds,  tossed 
those  barrels  of  flour  overboard  with  greater  ease  than  an 
average  man  could  have  thrown  over  a  50-pound  sack. 

Mr.  Welch  and  Mr.  Wirt  went  to  the  mines  together  and 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  221 

in-  the  following  May  Mr.  Wirt  returned  to  his  Clatsop 
farm  with  v$3000  in  gold  dust.  In  the  summer  of  '-V.)  he 
traded  his  Clatsop  farm  to  Sam  Gardiner  for  his  Fort  Clat- 
sop farm.  But  Mrs.  Wirt  was  not  willing  to  move  so  far 
back  in  the  woods  with  her  four  small  children,  so  Mr.  Wirt 
bought  a  block — about  an  acre — in  Lexington  (now  Skip- 
anon),  for  which  he  paid  $700.  This  townsite  was  laid  out 
and  platted  by  Mr.  Jerry  Tuller.  This  was  the  block  on 
which  Mr.  Wirt  now  lives.  Mr.  Wirt  moved  his  family  into 
a  log  cabin.  The  Wirt  cabin,  and  a  board  shanty,  with  a 
lean-to,  for  a  blacksmith's  shop,  belonging  to  a  Mr.  Swazey, 
who  had  a  Kanaka  for  a  wife,  constituted  the  city  of  Lex- 
ington. 

Mrs.  Wirt  gave  birth  to  her  fifth  child,  Philip,  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1850,  and  died  one  week  later  of  puerperal  fever,  and 
was  one  of  the  first  to  be  laid  away  in  the  old  Clatsop  ceme- 
tery. Mr,  Wirt  sold  his  block  of  land  in  Lexington  to 
David  Pease  in  1850  for  $1200.  In  August,  1850,  Mr.  Wirt 
married  Miss  Susan  M.  Kimball,  of  the  Whitman  massacre 
fame.  They  began  i)uilding  their  present  home  in  Septem- 
ber of  that  year.  They  paid  $165  for  the  three  thousand 
bricks  to  build  their  chimney.  These  bricks  came  around 
the  Horn  as  ballast.  The  lumber  cost  $75  a  thousand,  in 
the  rough,  at  the  mill.  This  mill  stood  on  the  east  bank  of 
the  O'Hanna  river,  just  north  of  where  the  A.  &  C.  railroad 
crosses  it,  near  Seaside.  The  mill  was  built  by  John  More- 
land.  A  Mr.  Walker  took  the  contract  for  $900  and  board  to 
build  their  home.  He  was  nine  months  completing  his  con- 
tract. Everything  was  done  by  hand,  and  done  well.  The 
house  was  thirty-two  feet  square  and  two  stories  high,  with 
eight  rooms ;  ceilings,  nine  feet,  and  parlor  sixteen  feet 
square.  Mr.  Evans  plastered  the  house  throughout,  and  it 
was  the  first  plastered  house  in  Clatsop  county.  The  house 
is  in  a  fine  state  of  preservation  at  the  present  time.  All 
the  early  pioneers  especially  remember  this  house  for  the 


222  -  Dr.  Owens -Adair. 

many  dancing  parties  and  good  suppers  they  enjoyed  within 
its  hospitable  walls  in  early  days. 

Mrs.  Susan  Kimball  Wirt  was  born  in  Frankland  county, 
Vermont,  in  1831  and  crossed  the  plains  in  1847,  reaching 
Clatsop  in  the  spring  of  1848.  Her  first  child,  John,  was 
born  in, November,  1857.  Hattie  (Mrs.  Rieman)  was  born 
in  December,  1852 ;  lone,  July,  1854,  and  O.  B.  Wirt  in  1856. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wirt  kept  a  hotel  and  horses  and  wagons  for 
hire  for  twenty-five  years.  They  are  now  enjoying  a  quiet 
life  in  the  old  home  where  they  have  lived  for  fifty-two 
years.  Mr.  Wirt,  now  89,  is  a  hale,  hearty  man.  He  can 
plow  and  sow  and  reap  and  mow  as  fifty  years  ago.  He 
drives  to  the  beach,  several  miles  away,  for  his  winter's 
wood.  He  cultivates  and  tends  several  acres  of  ground,  and 
always  raises  a  fine  garden,  and  plenty  of  roots  for  his  milch 
cows.  He  and  Mrs.  Wirt  especially  enjoy  the  present  mode 
of  reaching  Astoria  by  the  railroad.  Mr.  Wirt  greatly  en- 
joys the  annual  reunion  of  the  pioneers,  and  never  fails  to 
attend  the  meetings  of  the  Pioneer  Association. 

OBITUARY    OF    MRS.    SUSAN    KIMBALL    WIRT. DEATH    TAKES    A 

SURVIVOR   OF   THE   WHITMAN    MASSACRE. 

One  by  one  the  pioneers  of  those  stirring  days  of  Ore- 
gon's early  history  are  passing  to  the  unknown  future,  and 
as  each  death  is  recorded,  memories  are  revived  of  the  part 
they  took  in  exciting  events. 

There  are  few  of  the  survivors  of  the  famous  Whitman 
massacre  of  1847  alive.  The  last  to  be  taken  by  the  hand  of 
death  was  Mrs.  Susan  M.  Wirt,  of  Skipanon,  Oregon, 
whose  demise  occurred  on  February  29th,  1905. 

At  the  time  of  the  massacre  Mrs.  Wirt,  then  a  girl  of  six- 
teen, was  accompanying  her  parents,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nathan 
S.  Kimball,  across  the  plains  from  Indiana  to  the  territory 
of  Lewis  and  Clarke.  The  family  were  natives  of  the  State 
of  Vermont,  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  Was  born  in 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  !li23 

1830.  Three  years  later  they  journeyed  to  Inrliana,  where 
they  remained  till  the  .spriiiji^  of  1847.  After  untold  hard- 
ships the  family  reached  Whitman  Mission,  near  Walla 
Walla,  where  they  decided  to  remain  for  the  winter. 

The  day  before  the  massacre  Mr.  Kimball  tried  to  con- 
vince Dr.  Whitman  that  the  Indians  were  planning  a  raid, 
but  the  doctor  would  not  believe  anything-  was  wrong.  The 
following  afternoon  the  Indians  began  the  awful  attack, 
which  resulted  in  the  death  of  thirteen  men  and  one  woman, 
Mrs.  Wirt's  father  being  one  of  the  number.  The  Indians 
stole  all  that  was  of  any  value  to  them,  and  left  the  sick  and 
almost  helpless  women  and  children  at  the  mission.  For 
some  time  Mrs.  Wirt  remained  with  her  mother  at  the  mis- 
sion, but  finally  came  to  Oregon  City. 

Later  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Wirt  remarried  and  the  fam- 
ily settled  on  a  farm  on  Clatsop  Plains,  where  Mrs.  Wirt 
resided  until  she  was  married  and  moved  to  Skipanon,  Ore- 
gon, where  she  died. 

HARRIET    KIMBALL    JEWETT. 

Among  the  many  honored  pioneers  of  Oregon,  and  one 
well  known  in  Clatsop  county,  is  the  name  of  Mrs.  Har- 
riet Kimball  Jewett.  She  was  the  second  daughter  of 
Josiah  and  Sarah  Sanborn,  her  mother's  maiden  name  be- 
ing Shepherd.  These  two  families  were  pioneer  people  of 
Northern  Vermont,  and  plainly  showed  what  stock  they 
were  made  of  during  the  Revolution. 

Harriet  Sanborn  was  born  in  Richford,  Vermont,  Feb- 
ruary 26th,  1809,  and  was  married  to  Nathan  Schofield 
Kimball  February  31st,  1830.  In  the  winter  of  1833  they 
moved  to  Indiana,  where  they  lived  until  the  spring  of  '47, 
when  it  w^as  decided  to  move  to  Oregon,  not  only  for  the 
good  things  promised,  but  for  health.  I  have  often  heard 
my  mother  say,  at  this  time,  that  she  seldom  thought  of 
going  to  bed  without  first  giving  a  dose  of  quinine  to  some 


224  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

member  of  the  family.  Consequently,  that  spring  father 
sold  everything  but  what  was  needed  on  the  trip,  and  on 
April  14th,  1847,  began  the  long  journey  across  the  plains. 
The  family  consisted  of  seven  children,  the  eldest  a  girl 
of  16,  and  the  youngest  a  baby  of  three  months. 

They  had  what  was  called  a  good  start;  two  wagons, 
four  yokes  of  oxen,  a  brood  mare,  two  cows,  $1500  in  gold, 
and  last,  but  not  least,  the  children's  pet  dog.  The  money 
was  in  $5  pieces  and  was  sewed  in  three  belts,  father,  mother 
and  my  eldest  sister  each  wearing  one  all  the  time.  Noth- 
ing more  than  ordinary  events  happened  on  the  trip  until 
we  reached  the  Platte  river  country.  There  a  little  sister  of 
three  years  did.  As  it  was  in  the  heart  of  the  Indian  region, 
it  was  necessary  to  make  her  grave  in  the  road  and  drive 
all  the  teams  over  it  in  order  to  obliterate  all  traces  of  it, 
otherwise  the  Indians  would  have  desecrated  the  grave  for 
the  clothes.  When  crossing  the  Snake  river  my  oldest 
brother,  aged  14,  caught  a  severe  cold  from  getting  wet,  and 
after  a  week's  suffering,  he  died  September  26th,  1847.  It 
was  late  in  the  fall  when  we  reached  Whitman  Mission, 
near  Walla  Walla,  and  there  my  father  concluded  to  stay 
for  the  winter.  There  was  plenty  of  work,  a  good  school 
for  the  children,  and  fine  pasturage  for  the  tired,  worn-out 
cattle.  But  my  father's  suspicions  of  the  Indians  was 
aroused  by  their  removing  a  lot  of  wheat  from  the  upper 
room  of  the  big  house  in  which  they  lived,  where  they  had 
it  stored.  I  have  often  heard  my  mother  tell  that  just  the 
night  before  the  massacre  father  talked  about  it  to  Dr. 
Whitman  till  1  o'clock  a.  m.,  but  he  would  not  believe  any- 
thing was  wrong.  The  measles  had  broken  out  at  the  mis- 
sion, and  Dr.  Whitman  treated  all  alike,  but  the  white  chil- 
dren got  well  while  the  Indians  died,  because  they  would 
jump  into  the  water  when  they  were  burning  up  with  fever, 
so  they  were  made  to  believe  that  Dr.  Whitman  was  poison- 
ing them  and  curing  the  whites. 


Some  of  Her  Lri-E  Experiences.  i;25 

The  massacre  occurred  on  the  afternoon  of  November 
Syth,  1847.  Father  was  only  wounded  at  first,  and  ran  to 
the  Whitman  house,  where  he  staid  till  the  next  day,  when 
he  tried  to  slip  home,  but  the  Indians  saw  him,  and  just  as 
he  was  climbing  the  fence  at  the  back  of  our  house  he  was 
shot  and  killed  right  before  our  eyes.  Although  I  was  only 
six  years  old,  I  can  remember  seeing  him  fall  down  by  the 
fence. 

The  Indians  were  not  satisfied  with  killing  alone,  but  cut 
open  the  bodies,  took  out  the  hearts  and  burned  them. 
After  this  the  Indians  were  at  liberty  to  come  in  and  out,  as 
they  pleased,  and  help  themselves  to  what  they  liked.  What 
my  mother  endured  then  can  never  be  told — her  husband 
killed,  two  boys  that  were  likely  to  be  killed  at  any  moment, 
and  a  daughter  that  might  receive  treatment  worse  than 
death.  One  woman,  thinking  she  would  be  good  to  the  In- 
dians, and  thus  get  their  favor,  gave  them  cake  and  pie 
till  they  were  sick,  then  all  the  other  women  had  to  eat 
some,  to  show  that  it  was  not  poisoned,  or  they  would  have 
killed  her,  too. 

My  mother  alwa}s  firmly  believed  that  the  massacre  was 
at  the  instigation  of  the  Roman  Catholic  priests,  for  they 
came  there  the  following  day  and  buried  the  dead,  and  all 
the  Catholics  were  sent  from  the  mission,  on  one  excuse  or 
another,  a  few  days  before  the  massacre,  and  returned  as 
soon  as  it  was  over.  We  remained  at  the  mission  a  month 
longer  and  were  then  brought  to  Oregon  City,  but  there 
was  nothing  left  of  the  good  start  but  the  money,  which 
we  managed  to  keep  securely  secreted.  Even  the  dog.  that 
had  followed  all  the  way,  had  to  be  left  on  the  bank  of  the 
river. 

The  Indians  had  taken  everything  else,  even  to  almost  all 
our  clothing. 

April  loth  I  had  a  new  father  and  seven  more  brothers 
and  sisters. 


226  Dk.  Owens  -  Adair. 

My  mother  married  John  Jewett,  and  then  we  came  to 
Clatsop  county,  where  we  lived  and  grew  to  man  and 
womanhood.  Our  first  home  was  near  Seaside,  but  even 
there  the  Indians  were  not  to  be  trusted,  and  we  moved  to 
the  farm  now  owned  by  Josiah  West,  where  we  lived  till 
we  separated  to  homes  of  our  own. 

My  mother  lived  to  the  good  old  age  of  83,  and  died  in 
Astoria  at  the  home  of  her  youngest  daughter,  Mrs.  F.  H. 
Surprenant,  leaving  seven  sons  and  daughters,  seven  grand- 
children and  fifteen  great-grand-children. 

The  above  was  related  by  Mrs.  Sophia  Kimball  Munson, 
second  daughter  of  Mrs.  Jewett  by  her  first  husband. 


Some  of  Hek  Like  Experiences.  227 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

MRS.    ALMIRA   RAYMOND. 

Mrs.  Almira  Raymond  was  born  in  West  Troy,  New 
York,  in  1827.  She  united  with  the  Methodist  denomina- 
tion at  the  age  of  fifteen.  Married  W.  W.  Raymond  in  Sep- 
tember, 1839,  and  with  him  joined  the  Methodist  mission 
then  forming  in  New  York  City  for  the  purpose  of  sending 
missionaries  to  the  Indians  of  Oregon.  The  Lausanne  was 
chartered,  and  fourteen  famiHes  and  five  single  women  sailed 
in  her  on  the  29th  of  September,  1839.  After  a  long  and 
stormy  voyage  of  eight  months,  during  which  Mrs.  Ray- 
mond was  almost  continuously  seasick,  they  crossed  the 
Columbia  river  bar  in  May,  1840.  The  Lausanne  passed 
up  the  river  to  Vancouver,  reaching  there  in  June.  From 
there  the  missionary  party  went  up  the  Willamette  in  canoes, 
and  settled  at  Salem,  where  Mrs.  Raymond's  first  child  was 
born,  a  little  girl,  that  died  at  birth. 

From  Salem  Mrs.  Raymond  removed  to  The  Dalles  (then 
Wascopum),  where  her  second  daughter,  Martha,  was  born, 
in  1842.  In  that  year  Mrs.  Raymond  returned  to  Salem  and 
remained  there  till  1846.  During  this  time  two  more  daugh- 
ters were  born.  The  third  died  at  birth.  The  fourth, 
Aurelia,  was  born  in  1845. 

The  winter  of  '45-6  was  especially  severe.  Mrs.  Raymond 
passed  this  winter  in  a  tent.  The  snow  had  to  be  cleared 
from  the  roof  of  the  tent  every  few  hours,  it  fell  so  fast. 
The  principal  part  of  their  diet  was  dried  peas. 

In  the  spring  of  '46  they  removed  to  Clatsop  Plains, 
where  Mrs.  Raymond  lived  until  1849.  On  the  plains  two 
children  were  born — W^illiam,  her  first  son,  in  1846,  and  the 
fifth  daughter,  Annie,  in  1849. 


228  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

■  This  year  Mrs.  Raymond  removed  to  Upper  Astoria,  and 
was  living  there  when  the  Sylvia  de  Grasse  was  wrecked. 
There  a  second  son,  Nathan,  was  born,  in  January.  18^0. 

Late  the  next  spring,  or  early  in  the  summer,  Mrs.  Ray- 
mond moved  to  Tansy  Point,  where  she  resided  until  1855. 
At  'Tansy  Point  two  children  were  born,  James,  in  '52,  and 
Zilpha,  in  1855. 

While  Mrs.  Raymond  lived  at  the  Point,  Dr.  Dart  made 
the  famous  treaty  with  the  Indians  at  Tansy  Point,  and 
during  this  time  the  Indians  had  the  smallpox,  which  car- 
ried off  so  many  of  them.  In  one  camp  (Terwent's)  all 
were  down  at  once,  and  not  a  scrap  of  anything"  to  eat. 
They  v\^ere  not  allowed  to  go  near  any  house,  and  were 
dying  of  starvation  as  much  as  from  the  disease.  One  of 
the  Indians  got  into  a  canoe  and  came  to  Mrs.  Raymond 
for  help.  She  took  the  half  of  all  her  provisions  and  put 
them  by  the  canoe  for  him.  He  got  back  to  his  camp  with 
them,  but  died  that  night.     (Smallpox  in  1852-3.  Dr.  Adair.) 

In  1855  Mrs.  Raymond  moved  to  Tillamook.  This  was 
during  the  Indian  war,  and  Mrs.  Raymond  and  her  children, 
with  all  the  other  settlers,  were  shut  up  in  Trask's  fort, 
awaiting  an  attack  that  never  came. 

While  in  Tillamook  another  son,  Louis,  was  born. 

In  185(3  Mrs.  Raymond  moved  to  the  Indian  reservation 
known  as  the  Grand  Ronde  reservation,  and  was  there  when 
the  hostiles,  under  Chief  Limpy  and  Old  John,  were  brought 
there,  and  it  was  there  that  her  last  child  was  born,  a  little 
girl,  who  lived  to  be  but  four  years  and  a  few  months  old. 

The  next  year  Mrs.  Raymond  spent  in  traveling,  going 
to  The  Dalles  for  a  few  months,  then  back  to  Clatsop,  then 
down  to  Tillamook  again,  remaining  there  until  November, 
1858 ;  then  back  overland  to  Clatsop.  It  rained  the  entire 
trip,  and  Mrs.  Raymond  was  swept  from  her  horse  by  the 
surf,  in  rounding  one  of  the  capes  of  the  short  sand  beach, 
and  nearly  drowned.    This  was  one  of  her  most  disagreeable 


SoMi'',  oi-   lli'.K  I. Ill-:  ICx  I'l^KiicNCES.  229 

trips.  y\s,  iiowc'vcr,  I  lie  Irij)  ;il  that  season  oi  [\v:  }car 
was  of  Ikt  own  wish,  she  fonld  not  well  coiiiplaiii. 

Mrs.  Raymond  lived  at  Tansy  I'oint  milil  I.S(i;i,  when  she 
moved  to  y\storia.  In  IHC).")  slie  ])roenred  a  divorce  from  her 
husband.  She  then  t\'lurnt-d  to  the  i'oint  for  a  time  and 
then  went  back  to  S.ilni).  While  in  Salem  she  sold  her  half 
of  Tansy  I'oint  (now  h'lavelj  to  John  Loomis,  her  son-in- 
law,  who  promised  to  pay  her  $1000  and  provide  her  with 
a  home  during"  her  remaining-  life.  However,  she  received 
but  $100.  This  money  she  soon  spent  in  church  work  and 
then  went  in  debt.  Her  daughter  paid  her  mother's  debts 
many  times.  Finally,  not  being-  able  to  collect  the  remain- 
ing $GU0,  she  went  to  live  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Martha 
IvOomis. 

Mrs.  Raymond  hated  trouble  of  any  kind.  She  "took 
no  thought  for  the  morrow,"  but  put  her  trust  in  the  Lord, 
and  got  cheated  in  all  her  transactions. 

Mrs.  Raymond  was  a  very  pious  woman,  who  thought 
taking  care  for  the  future  showed  a  want  of  trust  in  the 
Lord,  and  was  therefore  a  sin. 

An  instance  of  this  was  given  when  the  new  Methodist 
church  at  Salem  was  built.  Aurelia  Raymond  sent  her 
mother  ten  dollars  every  month  expressly  for  the  rent,  some- 
times more,  but  never  less. 

When  Aurelia  went  to  Salem  and  asked  what  was  owing, 
she  found,  among  other  debts,  $-^0  for  rent. 

"Why,  mother,  how  is  this?"  she  asked.  "I  sent  you  the 
rent  money  every  month." 

Mrs.  Raymond  said  a  man  had  promised  to  give  the 
Methodist  church  $10,000  if  they  would  build  a  finer  church 
than  the  Presbyterian  church  in  Portland,  and  she  said  she 
felt  the  Lord  had  opened  a  way  for  her  to  assist  in  that 
great  work,  so  she  gave  the  money  to  the  church  and  let 
the  rent  go. 


230  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair, 

"But,  mother,  that  money  was  for  the  rent,  and  it  should 
have  been  paid." 

Mrs.  Raymond's  answer  was :  "The  cattle  on  a  thousand 
hills  are  His." 

Dozens  of  like  instances  could  be  given,  showmg  Mrs. 
Raymond's  unworldly  character.  No  woman,  in  truth, 
could  have  been  more  unfitted  for  the  privations  of  a  pioneer 
life,  for  she  was  not  strong,  and  naturally  took  no  care  for 
the  future.  That  natural  trait  was  intensified  by  her  relig- 
ion, which  made  her  think  she  committed  a  sin  if  she  took 
any  care  for  the  things  of  the  future  of  this  life.  Then,  her 
religion  was  so  entirely  a  matter  of  emotion  that  unless  she 
was  in  such  a  state  of  mind  as  to  be  regardless  of  everything 
in  this  world,  she  felt  that  she  had  lost  faith,  and  was  un- 
happy. Mrs.  Raymond  suffered  much  from  ill-health  the 
last  years  of  her  life,  as  well  as  from  the  loss  of  sight.  She 
died  in  1880.  A  woman,  kind-hearted,  peaceful  and  sincere, 
she  obeyed  literally  the  command :  "Take  no  thought  for 
tomorrow."  She  could  not  but  suffer  more  than  the  ordi- 
nary privations  of  the  pioneer. 

(The  above  sketch  was  prepared  by  a  daughter  of  M'rs. 
Raymond.  Believing  it  to  have  been  conscientiously  pre- 
pared, having  known  Mrs.  Raymond  well  myself,  I  give  it 
as  prepared.) 

Mrs.  Raymond  was  a  benevolent  woman,  kind  and  gen- 
erous to  a  fault,  but  entirely  without  thrift  or  economy  and, 
as  her  daughter  has  said,  utterly  unfitted  for  the  privations 
of  pioneer  life.  She  was  always  placid  and  unruffled,  leav- 
ing all  her  trials  and  tribulations  to  the  Lord.  And,  in  the 
midst  of  want  and  confusion,  she  could  sing  praises  to  the 
Lord,  never  seeming  to  realize  that  the  Lord  required  any- 
thing of  her  except  the  worship  of  mouth  and  spirit.  The 
following  are  the  names  of  the  passengers  who  sailed  on  the 
ship  Lausanne  from  New  York  September  29th,  1839 :  Rev. 
J.  L.  Parrish,  wife  and  three  children ; Kane  and  wife ; 


Some  ok  IIkr  I^imc  ICxi-kkikncks.  231 

Dr.  Richmond,  wife  and  child;  J.  !i.  l'>o.st,  wife  and  two 
chil(h-cn ;  A.  F.  Waller,  wife  and  two  children ;  L.  A.  Jud- 
son,  wife  and  three  children;  Hamilton  Campbell,  wife  and 

two  children;  Olcy  and  wife;  Henry   H.  Brewer  and 

wife;  W.  W.  Raymond  and  wife;  Abernathy  and  wife 

and  two  children;  Jason  Lee  aind  wife,  Miss  Phillips,  Miss 
Phelps,  Miss  Clark,  Miss  Ware.  Miss  Langton. —  (Dr. 
Owens  Adair.) 

MARGARET  CRAVEN   GEARHART. 

Mrs.  Margaret  C.  Gearhart,  widow  of  the  late  Philip 
Gearhart,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1812.  Her  parents 
moved  to  Ohio  in  1S14,  and  in  1835  Margaret  C.  Logan 
married  Philip  Gearhart  in  Decatur,  Indiana.  Immediately 
after  her  marriage,  they  moved  to  Iowa  and  made  their  home 
in  Henry  county  until  1843,  when  they  moved  to  Jefferson. 
Here  their  eldest  two  children,  the  late  John  W.  Gearhart 
and  Mrs.  Annie  E.  Stout,  were  born.  Mrs.  Sarah  L.  Byrd 
and  Hayden  Gearhart  were  born  in  Jefferson  county,  Iowa. 
They  farmed  in  both  of  their  Iowa  homes. 

In  1848,  after  a  persistent  effort  to  continue  their  home 
in  a  fever  and  ague  country,  Mr.  Gearhart  determined  to 
try  the  far-oft*  Oregon  country,  which  then  began  to  be 
known  as  a  wonderfully  healthy  region.  With  a  young  fam- 
ily of  four  children,  the  youngest  five  and  a  half  months  and 
the  eldest  a  girl  only  seven  and  one-half  years  old,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Gearhart  left  Iowa  April  10th,  1848,  for  Oregon. 
They  joined  a  train  in  Iowa  of  thirty-three  wagons,  known 
that  year  as  "the  Star-Belknap  Company,"  and  with  it 
crossed  the  plains.  They  celebrated  the  Fourth  of  July  at 
Independence  Rock. 

The  prime  cause  of  the  Gearhart's  start  for  Oregon  was 
to  find  a  healthy  country,  he  and  his  family  having  so  griev- 
ously suffered  with  chills  and  fever  in  Iowa  that  Mrs.  Stout 
remembers  having  ridden  a  horse  to  plow  corn  when  she 


232  Dk.  Owens  -  Adair. 

was  only  five  years  old,  the  plow  being  held  by  her  brother 
John,  then  only  eight,  the  rest  of  the  family  being  down 
with  the  ague. 

The  Gearharts  had  the  usual  trials  of  pioneers  crossing 
the  plains.  At  North  Platte  Mr.  Gearhart  fell  back  one 
day,  joining  a  party  of  nine  wagons,  and  with  them  reached 
Oregon  City  September  28th,  1848.  Here  Mr.  Gearhart 
found  the  late  Joseph  Jeffers,  who  had  reached  Oregon  in 
1847,  settling  in  Clatsop  county.  Mr.  Gearhart's  first  ques- 
tion on  meeting  A-Ir.  JefTers  was :  "Where  is  the  healthiest 
part  of  this  country?" 

Mr.  Jeffers  replied :  "If  health  is  what  you  are  after,  go 
down  to  Clatsop."  And  down  to  Clatsop  the  Gearhart 
family  came. 

Mr.  Gearhart  bought  the  donation  land  claim,  as  filed 
upon  by  Mrs.  Marion  Thompson  and  husband,  paying  there- 
for $1000.  On  this  place  Margaret  Gearhart  assisted  her 
husband  in  making  one  of  the  most  comfortable  homes  in 
Oregon.  A  portion  of  this  Gearhart  farm  has  been  im- 
proved, and  is  now  favorably  known  as  "Gearhart  Park." 

Within  six  weeks  after  reaching  Oregon  Mr*  Gearhart 
succeeded  in  locating  his  family  and  his  effects  in  his  Clat- 
sop home.  He.  had  four  cows,  two  calves  and  two  fine 
American  mares,  as  well  as  a  lot  of  twenty-one  cows,  ob- 
tained in  exchange  for  His  plains  team  of  oxen  and  wagons. 
Mrs.  Gearhart  at  once  began  the  dairy  business,  with  a  good 
supply  of  milk,  but  no  pans  or  buckets.  Mr.  Gearhart, 
however,  soon  made  spruce  "keelers,"  or  small  tubs,  that 
were  very  good  for  holding  milk,  but  which  required  close 
attention  and  much  washing  and  scalding.  On  this  Clatsop 
farm  Mrs.  Gearhart  became  the  mother  of  two  more  chil- 
dren, Maggie,  now  Mrs.  Charles  Butterfield,  and  Pierce 
Gearhart,  of  Idaho.  Mrs.  Gearhart  has  five  children  and 
twenty-two  grand-children  and  great-grand-children  now 
living. 


SOMK   OK    IIkR    LiI-K    Exi'KRirCNCKS,  233 

Among  many  incidents  of  pioneer  life  this,  as  related  by 
Mrs.  Byrd  (Sarah  L.  Gearhart),  oiij^dit  to  be  remembered. 
She  says : 

"I  remember,  in  1849,  an  Indian,  by  name  'Whatcom,' 
came  to  my  father's  house  on  Clatsop  Plains  and  stole  a  jjair 
of  new  wool  socks.  Mother  had  carded  the  wool,  spun  the 
yarn  on  a  little  wheel  she  brought  across  the  plains,  and 
knit  the  socks.  Father  sent  word  by  Mr.  Robinson,  an  old 
pioneer  living  near  us,  for  the  Indian  to  bring  back  the 
socks.  The  Indian  came,  but  not  to  bring  the  socks,  and 
not  alone.  He  had  only  thirteen  more  Indians  with  him. 
They  came  as  far  as  our  barn  and  sent  my  older  brother, 
who  was  there  thrashing  out  wheat  with  the  cows,  to  tell 
my  father  to  come  down  to  them ;  they  were  going  to  kill 
him.  My  father  loaded  two  mtizzle-loading  rifles,  which 
meant  just  two  shots,  put  some  balls,  caps  and  powder  in 
his  pockets,  took  up  a  large  walking  stafif,  said  good-bye  to 
mother  and  the  children,  and  walked  out  in  view  of  those 
fourteen  Indians.  To  win  or  die  was  the  question.  I  can 
remember  so  well  just  how  it  all  looked  to  me.  When  the 
Indians  saw  my  father  coming  toward  them  their  leader 
utter  just  one  word  'Clatawa'  (run),  and  they  did  run,  for 
over  two  miles,  to  a  neighbor,  Mr.  Thomas  Owens.  After- 
ward Mr.  Owens  told  my  father  that  'the  Indians  said  Gear- 
hart  was  after  them  and  was  going  to  kill  them  all,  and 
asked  me  to  save  them,  somehow.'  Mr.  Owens  was  at  this 
time  sherilT  of  Clatsop  county,  and  while  the  Indians  had  a 
proper  respect  for  him  as  an  officer,  they  also  had  con- 
fidence in  his  ability  to  protect  them  when  necessary,  and 
afterward  appealed  to  him  for  protection  when  they  had 
trouble  with  the  settlers." 

Mrs.  Byrd  further  relates  that  in  crossing  the  Deschutes 
river  some  Indians  rode  up  to  them,  threw  rawhide  ropes 
over  the  heads  of  the  oxen,  and,  after  helping  them  across, 
asked  pay  for  their  services,  and  her  mother  paid  them  in 
biscuits. 


234  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

sketch   of  mrs.   \v.   t.   perry  and   mrs.   eldridge  trask 

(sisters). 

Mrs.  Ann  Perry,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William 
Abell,  was  born  December  18th,  1818,  in  Tippecanoe  county, 
Indiana,  in  sight  of  General  Harrison's  home.  She  mar- 
ried William  T.  Perry  July,  1839.  They  left  Indiana  April 
1st,  1842,  and  crossed  the  plains  that  year.  With  them 
came  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Perry,  a  young  widow,  having  a  baby 
girl,  Rosalthie.  They  journeyed  as  far  as  Green  River  in 
wagons.  There  they  left  their  wagons  and  completed  their 
long  trip  on  horseback.  On  Platte  river  they  met  a  Mr. 
Eldredge  Trask,  a  young  trapper,  and  he  traveled  on  with 
them  to  Oregon  City.  He  soon  fell  in  love  with  the  young 
widow,  and  upon  reaching  Oregon  City  they  were  mar- 
ried. 

This  little  company  while  on  the  plains  fell  in  with  Fitz- 
patrick,  an  old  trapper,  who  rendered  them  invaluable  ser- 
vice, he  being  familiar  with  the  Indian  character  and  lan- 
guage, thereby  preventing  serious  trouble  while  passing 
through  the  Sioux  country. 

The  Perrys  and  Trasks  spent  their  first  winter  in  Oregon 
City  and,  as  far  as  I  can  find,  lived  in  the  first  frame  build- 
ing in  Oregon,  built  by  Mr.  Perry,  who  was  a  millwright. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  '43  Messrs.  Perry  and  Trask  moved 
their  families  down  to  Clatsop  Plains  and  took  up  for  them- 
selves farms  about  the  middle  of  that  then  beautiful  flower  ' 
garden.  They  built  themselves  a  home  on  the  Perry  farm, 
which  both  families  occupied.  On  October  15th,  1843,  a 
daughter  was  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Perry.  This  little  girl 
was  named  Mary,  and  she  has  the  honor  of  being  the  first 
white  child  born  in  Clatsop  county.  She  is  now  the  wife  of 
Mr.  Fred  Shrowder,  a  wealthy  farmer  and  dairyman  of 
Coos  county,  living  on  the  banks  of  the  beautiful  Coquille 
river.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Perry  lived  and  prospered  in  Clatsop 
county,  but  he  was  of  a  migratory  nature,  and  not  contented 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  235 

to  stay  lonp;'  in  one  place.  In  IH~)1  he  movcfl,  with  his 
family,  to  Dout^las  county,  locatinjj^  in  Rosehnrj^^  and  buy- 
ing a  large  tract  of  land  on  Deer  creek.  Roseburg  now 
stands  on  j^art  of  this  land.  In  1852  Perry  built  at  Rose- 
burg the  first  grist  mill  of  Douglas  county.  In  1859  he 
again  moved,  this  time  to  Coos  county,  and  settled  on  the 
Coquille  river,  about  two  miles  below  Myrtle  Point,  where 
Mrs.  Perry  assisted  her  husband  to  build  their  third  and 
last  home  in  Oregon. 

At  this  home  Mrs.  Perry  died  in  June,  1872,  at  the  age 
of  54  years  and  6  months,  surrounded  by  her  husband  and 
children. 

Mrs.  Perry  was  a  true  pioneer,  and  never  objected  to  giv- 
ing up  a  comfortable  home,  which  had  taken  years  to  ac- 
quire, and  going  uncomplainingly  with  her  husband  to  be- 
gin again  in  a  new  and  unbroken  region  the  toil  and  strug- 
gle of  building  another  home.  She  was  a  good  neighbor,  a 
true  and  faithful  wife  and  helpmate,  always  carrying  her 
full  share  of  the  burdens  of  life.  There  were  five  children 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Perry — Vale,  Mary,  Emily,  Dora  and 
Vela.  All  are  married  and  have  families,  and  are  now  re- 
spected residents  of  Coos  county. 

In  December.  1843,  a  pair  of  twin  girls  were  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Trask  on  Clatsop  Plains — Harriet  and  Mar- 
tha. After  these,  in  due  time,  came  Bertha,  Jane,  George, 
William,  Charley  and  Ada.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Trask  remained 
in  Clatsop  county  until  1852,  when  they  removed  to  Tilla- 
mook, settling  on  a  river  since  known  as  Trask  river. 
They  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  Tillamook  county, 
and  did  their  share  in  opening  up  that  part  of  our  state. 
Mrs.  Trask  lived,  as  did  other  pioneer  women,  devoting 
her  time  to  her  husband,  her  children  and  her  home.  She 
was  especially  noted  for  her  happy  and  good-natured  dis- 
position, as  well  as  for  her  benevolence  and  whole-heart- 
edness.     She  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  seeing  her  children 


236  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

grown  and  settled  in  life.  She  was  respected  and  appre- 
ciated by  all  who  knew  her.  In  gathering  pioneer  data  I 
find  that  Air.  Eldredge  Trask  did  more  to  assist  the  early 
settlers  to  reach  Clatsop  than  any  other  one  person.  He 
was  a  large,  strong  man,  with  a  big  heart  and  good,  gener- 
ons  nature.  For  several  years  he  assisted  every  family, 
meeting  them  either  at  Tansy  Point  (now  Flavel)  or  Skip- 
anon,  and  taking  them  to  his  own  home,  or  whatever  place 
had  been  provided  for  them. 

Later  on,  in  Tillamook,  during  the  Indian  war  of  1855-6, 
Trask  built  a  fort,  in  which  all  the  neighboring  settlers 
were  protected  for  five  or  six  months,  known  as  Fort 
Trask.  He  thoroughly  understood  the  Indian  character, 
and  was  a  tower  of  strength  in  any  time  of  trouble  with 
them. 

PHII.rPINA  VEITH  BOELLING. 

Philipina  Veith,  daughter  of  Christian  and  Frederica 
Veith,  was  born  in  Rheinpfalz,  Bavaria,  and  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1831,  with  her  parents,  when  13  years  of  age.  She 
married  Mr.  Conrad  Boelling  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  soon 
after  went  to  Peoria,  Illinois,  to  live,  but,  owing  to  the  ma- 
larial climate,  concluded  to  come  to  Oregon  in  search  of 
health.  They  arrived  in  Astoria  in  18-19,  and  have  made 
their  home  there  ever  since  that  time.  Her  mother,  Mrs, 
Frederica  Veith,  now  a  widow,  came  Avith  her,  and  made 
her  home  with  her  until  her  death,  which  occurred  in  1878. 

Mr.  BoeJling  died  in  Astoria  February  1st,  1885. 

Mrs.  Boelling  is  the  mother  of  eleven  children,  only  five 
of  whom  are  now  living,  eleven  grand-children,  eight  of 
whom  are  living,  and  fourteen  great-grand-children,  nine 
of  whom  are  living  at  the  present  time.  She  lives  in  her 
own  home,  well  cared  for  by  her  children,  two  sons  and  two 
daughters  being  yet  at  home. 

She  has  seen  Astoria  grow  from  a  few  houses  at  the  edge 


Some  r)i-  Hkr  T.ii'-i':  T^x  iM'.kiences.  2'M 

of  llic  water,  with  a  tKnsc  forest  behind  tliem,  to  a  busy 
little  city,  with  all  the  modern  conveniences  and  comforts, 
and  from  travelinj^'  in  Indian  canoes,  as  the  only  means  of 
travel,  to  seeing-  lar<;e  ships  from  all  ports  lying  in  the  har- 
bor, and  having;-  fine  steamers  and  later,  hearing  the  whistle 
of  the  locomotive  in  town  ;  from  having  the  mail  brought 
around  the  Horn  in  a  sailing  vessel  and  getting  it  once  a 
year,  to  having  it  left  at  the  door  by  a  mail  carrier  several 
times  a  day. 

(The  above  sketch  was  furnished  me  by  members  of  the 
Boelling  famil\,  with  the  request  that  it  remain  without  any 
changes. — Dr.  Owens-Adair.) 

Mrs.  Holbrook  was  a  personal  friend  of  Dr.  Adair  and 
she  takes  pleasure  in  giving  the  following  interesting  article 
by  her  a  place  in  this  volume. 

THE     JOURNEY     TO     PORTLAND^     VIA     PANAMA,     FORTY-SEVEN 
YEARS   AGO. 

That  ]\Irs.  Amory  Holbrook  was  an  easy  and  pleasant 
writer  is  well  known  among  all  her  friends.  Whatever 
came  from  her  pen  was  stamped  with  that  bright  and  sym- 
pathetic humor  that  was  so  marked  a  characteristic  of  her 
speech  and  manner. 

In  the  present  year  of  1899  a  little  booklet  came  into  print 
for  private  circulation,  giving  an  interesting  account  of  the 
exodus  of  the  Couch  and  Holbrook  pilgrims  from  Boston  to 
Portland,  Oregon  in  1852.  This  makes  charming  reading, 
even  to  the  uncaring  stranger  who  feels  no  special  interest 
in  the  pioneer  experiences  of  the  early  Oregonians. 

The  little  company,  eleven  in  all,  who  made  the  journey 
by  way  of  Panama,  consisted  of  Amory  Holbrook,  United 
States  attorney  for  Oregon  Territory  (which  then  comprised 
the  three  states  of  Oregon,  Washington  and  Idaho,  with  a 
part  of  Montana) ,  his  wife  and  two  children  and  nurse ; 
Airs.   Caroline   Couch   and   her  three   daughters,   and   Airs. 


238  De.  Owens  -  Adair. 

Eliza  Ainsworth,  of  Cincinnati.  B.  F.  Goodwin,  of  Marble- 
head,  was  also  a  member  of  the  company.  As  an  illustra- 
tion of  Mrs.  Holbrook's  sparkling  sense  of  humor,  the  fol- 
lowing incident  that  occurred  while  the  boat  was  delayed  at 
Havana  may  be  quoted  from  her  booklet : 

"The  staterooms  opened  out  upon  a  passage-way  leading 
to  the  guards,  the  doors  facing  each  other.  Those  in  the 
rooms  across  from  ours  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grimes.  Mr. 
Grimes  was  a  wealthy  Honolulu  merchant,  whose  wife  was 
in  the  very  last  stages  of  consumption.  She  was  very  sea- 
sick, as  were  also  Mrs.  Ainsworth,  Mrs.  Couch  and  I  and 
many  others.  During  the  night  she  was  very  ill  and  her 
moans  were  most  distressing.  Miss  Carrie  went  in  and  en- 
deavored to  relieve  her  sufferings,  soothing  her  in  every 
possible  way.  When  we  learned  in  the  morning  that  poor 
Mrs.  Grimes  had  paid  the  penalty  of  her  own  folly  in  eat- 
ing immoderately  of  cucumbers,  etc.,  in  that  tropical  cli- 
mate, by  her  death,  in  the  early  morning,  we  were  not  sur- 
prised. 

"A  peculiar  feature  of  Mr.  Grimes'  sorrow  at  the  loss  of 
his  wife  was  his  going  to  the  staterooms  of  the  ladies  with 
whom  he  had  become  acquainted,  telling  them  of  his  loss, 
and  concluding  with  a  kiss,  saying :  T  know  you  sympathize 
with  me.'  The  husbands  of  these  ladies  were  differently 
affected  by  this.  Some  laughed,  as  though  it  was  the  fun- 
niest thing  they  ever  heard.  Others  were  of  the  same  mind 
as  Mr.  Holbrook,  who,  when  he  came  into  the  stateroom, 
asked  me  if  I  had  heard  the  sad  tidings.  When  he  heard  of 
the  singular  manner  in  which  Mr.  Grimes  claimed  my  sym- 
pathy he  was  too  indignant  to  be  silent  and  he  exclaimed : 

"  'And  you  let  him  !' 

"  'Why,  yes,'  I  replied,  'the  poor  man  was  so  full  of  sor- 
row.' 

"The  journey  across  the  isthmus  was  made  on  mules,  and 


Some  of  lliiu  J^inc  I'^xphkikncrs.  239 

occupied  nearly  three  days.  They  traveled  by  nij:(ht  in  order 
to  avoid  the  heat,  stopping  at  ranches  by  day  to  rest." 

"One  incident,"  she  wrote,  "greatly  amused  us,  and  when- 
ever it  came  into  our  minds,  made  great  laughter  and  fun. 
At  intervals  along  the  road  were  large  tents  spread  for  the 
refreshment  of  travelers — restaurants. 

"To  our  great  astonishment,  the  mule  carrying  one  of 
our  elderly  ladies,  the  dearest  and  sweetest  of  the  whole  com- 
pany, and  the  most  demure,  suddenly  started  up  a  hill  to  the 
right,  making  straight  for  a  saloon,  at  which  he  had  evi- 
dently been  accustomed  to  call,  and  not  content  with  stop- 
ping at  the  door,  rode  right  in,  coming  out  at  the  other  end. 
The  dear  little  lady,  somewhat  chagrined  at  having  been 
compelled  to  make  such  a  call,  turned  her  head  back  as  she 
came  out,  to  join  in  the  laugh  of  her  companions,  when  the 
pole  supporting  the  end  of  tent  caught  her  bonnet,  and  the 
mule  galloped  off  by  himself,  leaving  her  seated  on  the 
ground,  quite  unhurt,  but  a  little  startled.  The  gentlemen 
rushed  to  her  rescue  and  she  was  soon  reseated  upon  her 
.  subdued  steed." 

After  arriving  at  Panama  Mr.  Holbrook  decided  to  re- 
main at  the  isthmus  ten  days,  the  time  being  spent  on  a 
pleasant  little  island  in  the  bay,  where  the  mountain  breezes 
strengthened  them  for  their  voyage  on  the  Pacific.  Shortly 
after  arriving  at  San  Francisco  they  embarked  for  Oregon 
on  the  steamer  Columbia. 

"We  arrived  off  Astoria  Friday  morning,  and  just  above, 
a  few  miles,  we  met  the  steamboat  of  which  Captain  John  J. 
Ainsworth  was  master,  the  Lot  Whitcomb,  as  fine  and  hand- 
some a  passenger  boat  as  any  in  eastern  waters  at  that  time. 
He  came  on  board  to  welcome  his  mother,  and  we  all  re- 
marked how  much  they  looked  alike,  and  after  we  had  got- 
ten started  again  we  learned  to  our  amusement  that  she  was 
his  stepmother. 

"We  arrived  at  Portland  at  davlisfht  Saturdav  morning. 


240  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

During  the  day  we  had  a  call  from  Miss  Mary  Dryer, 
daughter  of  the  editor  of  The  Oregonian,  a  very  pleasant 
young  lady." 

They  did  not  remain  at  Portland,  but  went  on  to  Oregon 
City,  which  was  to  be  their  home  for  several  years.  After 
touching  on  the*  many  changes,  marriages,  births  and  deaths 
that  had  occurred  in  the  forty-seven  years  that  had  elapsed 
since  that  historic  journey,  Mrs.  Holbrook  concludes  as  fol- 
lows : 

"It  may  fall  to  a  younger  hand  than  mine  to  make  the 
record  of  the  succeeding  years,  but  I  shall  be  satisfied  with 
the  granting  of  this  one  petition :  that  the  blessing  of  God 
— Father,  Redeemer  and  Comforter,  the  Name  which  is 
above  every  name — may  be  upon  us,  and  upon  our  children 
to  all  generations." 

WHAT   WE   NEED. 

What  does  our  country  need?    Not  armies  standing, 

With  sabers  gleaming,  ready  for  the  fight ; 
Not  increased  navies,  skillful  and  commanding, 

To  bound  the  waters  with  an  iron  might ; 
Not  haughty  men,  with  glutted  purses,  trying 

To  purchase  souls  and  keep  the  power  of  place; 
Not  jeweled  dolls,  with  one  another  vieing 

For  palms  of  beauty,  eloquence  or  grace. 

But  we  need  women,  strong  of  soul,  yet  lowly, 

With  that  rare  meekness,  born  of  gentleness ; 
Women  whose  lives  are  pure,  and  clean,  and  holy — 

The  women  whom  all  little  children  bless. 
Brave,  earnest  women,  helpful  to  each  other. 

With  finest  scorn  for  all  things  low  and  mean ; 
Women  who  hold  the  names  of  wife  and  mother, 

Far  nobler  than  the  title  of  a  queen. 


Some  of  IJkk  J.d'I':  ICxi'i;i<ii:ncks.  241 

Oh,  those  arc  they  who  mold  the  men  of  story, 

'rhese  inf)thers,  ofttimes  shorn  of  grace  and  youth, 
Who,  worn  and  weary,  ask  no  greater  glory 

Than  making  some  young  soul  the  home  of  truth  ; 
Who  sow,  in  hearts  all  fallow  for  the  sowing, 

The  seeds  of  virtue,  and  the  scorn  of  sin; 
And,  patient,  watch  the  beauteous  harvest  growing. 

And  weed  out  tares  which  crafty  hands  cast  in. 

Women  who  do  not  hold  the  gift  of  beauty 

As  some  rare  treasure  to  be  bought  and  sold ; 
But  guard  it  as  a  precious  aid  to  duty — 

The  outer  framing  of  the  inner  gold. 
Women  who,  low  above  the  cradle  bending, 

Let  flattery's  voice  go  by,  and  give  no  heed 
While  their  pure  prayers,  like  incense,  are  ascending ; 

These  are  our  country's  pride,  our  country's  need. 


242  Dr.  Owens  -  Adatr. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

ANNUAL    ADDRESS    BEFORE   THE    PIONEER    SOCIETY   OF   OREGON. 

(By  Hon.  Charles  W.  Fulton,  Astoria,  United  States  Sen- 
ator from  Oregon.) 

"The  last  of  the  Mohicans"  is  the  title  of  one  of  Cooper's 
most  interesting  tales.  The  hero  of  the  story,  though  a 
savage,  is  pictured  as  possessing  many  noble  and  admirable 
traits  of  character,  but  his  heart  is  heavy,  and  dark  forebod- 
ings cast  a  shadow  over  his  pathway,  for  he  has  witnessed 
the  downfall  and  dissolution  of  his  tribe,  and  he  realizes 
that  ere  long  none  will  remain  to  recount  the  achievements 
or  perpetuate  the  legends  and  traditions  of  his  people. 

I  come  before  you  today  to  speak  of  the  last  of  the  pion- 
ers.  They,  too,  were  among  the  noblest  of  their  race ;  but 
their  lives  were  not  disturbed  by  any  fears  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  their  posterity.  On  the  contrary,  animated  by  that 
confidence  which  is  born  of  the  lofty  courage,  fortitude  and 
strength  of  character  necessary  to  the  successful  prosecu- 
tion and  consummation  of  all  great  undertakings,  they  felt 
and  knew  it  was  given  to  them  to  reclaim  the  wilderness 
from  savagery  and  lay  the  foundation  for  future  states — 
states  destined  to  be  peopled  with  millions  of  their  country- 
men, if  only  they  should  plan  the  foundation  wisely  and 
build  it  deep  and  strong. 

That  they  did  their  work  ably  and  well,  all  generations 
following  them  will  testify.  Under  them  the  trackless 
plains  and  primeval  forests  were  converted  into  productive 
fields  and  fruitful  gardens.  "Where  rolls  the  Oregon," 
who  once  "knew  no  sound  save  his  own  dashings,"  was 
soon  heard  the  echo  of  the  ax,  the  hammer  and  the  saw. 


Some  of  Her  Lifk  Experiences.  24:3 

and  the  wilderness  became  "quick  with  hfe."  The  wij^'wam 
and  hunter's  lodge  gave  way  to  the  settler's  cabin,  the  school 
house  and  the  church ;  and  amidst  this  "solitude  of  centuries 
untold"  was  now  heard  the  laughter  of  children  and  the 
"sweet  and  solemn  hymn  of  Sabbath  worshipers."  Settle- 
ments widened  into  communities,  and  communities  broad- 
ened into  states,  all  under  the  shadow  of  the  Stars  and 
Stri]>es,  and  dedicated  to  human  freedom,  religious  and  po- 
litical liberty. 

Such,  in  brief,  was  the  work  of  the  Oregon  pioneers.  I 
have  said  that  they  were  the  last  of  the  pioneers,  and  in  a 
sense  they  were.  True,  since  then  many  others  have  gone 
out  into  the  wilderness  and  budded  for  themselves  homes, 
but  they  have  followed  in  the  footsteps  and  camped  on  the 
trail  of  the  Oregon  pioneers. 

The  conditions  under  which  the  Oregon  Country  was  oc- 
cupied and  settled  differ  widely  from  those  attending  the 
settlement  of  every  other  section  of  our  country.  All  previous 
frontiersmen  had  located  within  reaching  distance  of  sup- 
port and  supplies.  Even  the  Pilgrim  fathers  and  early  set- 
tlers on  the  Atlantic  Coast  could,  in  a  comparatively  short 
period  of  time,  by  ships  return  to  the  old  world,  or  send  for 
food  and  protection,  but  when  the  Oregon  pioneer  had 
crossed  the  Missouri  river  and  turned  his  face  to  the  setting 
sun  there  was  in  front  of  him  two  thousand  miles  of  wild, 
unsettled,  practically  unexplored  and  unknown  country.  At 
the  end  of  his  proposed  journey,  and  inspiring  him  to  under- 
take the  passage,  was  the  surf-beaten  shore  of  the  Pacific, 
where  the  warm  winds  from  the  tropic  currents  keep  the 
flowers  in  perennial  bloom  and  clothe  the  earth  ever  in  the 
garb  of  spring. 

Between  were  trackless  plains,  wide  belts  of  treeless 
wastes,  affording  no  protection  against  the  all-penetrating 
alkali  dust,  the  blistering  heat  of  the  summer  sun,  or  the 
freezing  blasts  of  the  winter  winds.     Loftv  mountain  ransres 


344  Dk.  Owens  -  Adair. 

interposed  their  rock}'  sides  to  the  passage  of  the  weary. 
foot-sore  beasts  of  burden  and  heavily  laden  wagons ;  and 
as  if  these  difficulties  were  not  sufficiently  great  to  cool  the 
ardor  of  the  most  enthusiastic  emigrant,  this  wide,  wild 
region  was  nowhere  inhabited  by  a  civilized  people,  but 
throughout  by  numerous  tribes  of  the  most  cruel,  crafty, 
bloodthirsty  savages  this  world  has  ever  known.  Such  were 
the  conditions  attending  the  migrations  of  the  Oregon  pio- 
neers. 

We  have  been  accustomed  to  hear  of  the  hardships  and 
dangers  endured  by  the  early  settlers  of  the  Atlantic  Coast 
portrayed  and  described  in  poetry,  prose  and  song,  their 
sufferings  commiserated,  their  courage  extolled.  And  that 
too  much  has  not  been  said,  may  not  be  said  on  either  behalf, 
I  most  freely  admit.  Yet  how  small  the  obstacles  they  faced, 
how  few  the  dangers  attending  their  migrations,  how  in- 
considerable the  hardships  they  endured,  compared  with 
those  of  the  Oregon  pioneers  of  the  '40s  and  early  '50s. 
The  early  pioneers  of  the  Atlantic  Coast  reached  their  des- 
tination in  ships.  Their  real  dangers  and  deprivations  com- 
menced at  the  end  of  their  journey,  while  those  of  the  Ore- 
gon pioneers  began  at  the  crossing  of  the  turbid  waters  of 
the  treacherous  Missouri  and  continued,  with  every  possible 
variation  and  addition,  throughout  their  long,  trying  jour- 
ney of  two  thousand  miles,  and  when  their  destination  was 
reached  were  probably  not  greatly  less  than  those  with  which 
the  early  settlers  on  the  Atlantic  Coast  had  to  contend. 

In  all  the  annals  of  history  there  is  no  story  more  thrilling, 
more  romantic  than  that  of  the  Oregon  pioneers.  No  feat- 
ure is  wanting  to  lend  to  it  all  the  intense  interest  of  the 
most  absorbing  works  of  fiction.  No  hero  of  Cooper,  or  of 
the  Western  border,  ever  faced  a  situation  so  pregnant  with 
dangers  and  hardships,  or  gave  such  proofs  of  the  highest 
order  of  courage  and  strength  of  character  as  was  evidenced 
by  our  pioneers  in  making  the  journey  from  the  Missouri  to 


SoiMi-.  oi'-  IIi:k  Ijii',  P^xperiunces.  245 

the  I'ariric.  In  Iriilli,  llu-  Oreii^on  pifjiiecrs  were  by  nature 
molded  and  designed  for  llie  i.^reat  work  they  accomplished, 
and  which  only  such  as  they  could  have  accomplished.  They 
were,  as  a  rule,  horn  and  1)red  pioneers;  were  the  product 
of  generations  of  the  best  pioneer  stock.  The  task  which 
they  so  willins^ly  undertook,  and  so  splendidly  performed, 
would  have  been  inii)ossib]e  for  the  passengers  of  the  "May- 
flower," or  any  ])eopIe  less  acquainted  with  and  inured  to 
the  hardshii)s  and  vicissitudes  of  border  life.  The  Oregon 
pioneer  was  strictly  "siii  generis."  His  education,  while  not 
deficient  in  book  knowledge,  covered  a  wide  range  in  that 
school  of  experience  which  peculiarly  and  especially  fitted 
him  to  meet  and  successfully  contend  with  the  difficulties 
and  dangers  incident  to  frontier  life.  He  could  frame  an  ex- 
cellent code  of  laws  for  the  government  of  a  community  or 
state,  shoe  a  horse  or  mend  a  broken  wagon  wheel,  as  the 
occasion  required.  He  could  solve  a  problem  in  mathe- 
matics, shoot  a  grizzly,  set  a  broken  limb  or  match  a  red 
devil  in  cunning,  as  the  exigency  of  the  case  might  demand. 
That  they  were  men  and  women  of  exceptional  resources, 
fortitude  and  courage  is  evident,  though,  for  the  matter  of 
that,  such  is  usually  the  character  of  the  pioneer.  The 
coward  does  not  venture  amidst  the  dangers  and  discom- 
forts of  such  a  life,  and  the  sluggard  prefers  slumber  and 
repose  to  toil  and  hardships.  Only  the  enterprising  and 
brave  are  actuated  to  become  pioneers.  Particularly  is  this 
true  where  the  point  of  destination  is  distant  and  the  hard- 
ships and  dangers  to  be  encountered  exceptionally  great. 
Such  were  the  conditions  attending  the  early  settlement  of 
America ;  hence  the  remarkable  mental  and  physical  vigor, 
energy  and  progressiveness  of  our  colonial  ancestors,  and 
hence  the  unparalleled  progress  we  have  made  as  a  nation. 
The  isolation  of  our  territory,  the  great  distances  between  it 
and  all  thickly^  populated  countries,  the  dangers  and  dif- 
ficulties necessarily  encountered  in  reaching;  it,  and  the  hard- 


246  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

ships  to  be  endured  in  subduing  it,  all  contributed  to  its  be- 
ing peopled  with  a  hardy,  energetic,  self-reliant  and  re- 
sourceful race. 

Much  has  been  said  and  written  on  the  question  of  to 
whom  credit  is  due  for  turning  the  tide  of  immigration  to 
the  Oregon  Country  in  the  first  instance,  and  thereby  saving 
to  the  United  States  this  great  and  splendid  domain.  The 
question  is  deeply  interesting,  but  too  wide  to  be  discussed 
fully  here  if  reference  shall  be  made  to  any  other  topic. 
Originally  our  claim  of  title  to  the  Oregon  Country  was 
based  on  discovery,  exploration  and  settlement.  The  sources 
of  our  title  may  be  broadly  stated  to  be  (1)  the  discovery  of 
the  Columbia  river  by  Captain  Robert  Gray,  a  citizen  of 
the  United  States,  in  1792;  (2)  the  visit  and  exploration  of 
Lewis  and  Clark  in  1805-6;  (3)  establishment  of  a  trading 
post  by  John  Jacob  Astor  at  Astoria  in  1811 ;  and  (4)  occu- 
pation and  settlement  of  the  territory  by  citizens  of  the 
United  States. 

That  the  discovery  and  naming  of  the  Columbia  river  by 
Gray  and  the  explorations  of  Lewis  and  Clark  were  neces- 
sary and  vital  links  in  our  chain  of  title  all  will  admit,  and 
here  I  may  add  that  while  we  could  not  properly  base  any 
claim  of  title  to  this  territory  on  our  purchase  of  the  Louis- 
iana territory,  yet  that  purchase  is  inseparably  associated 
with,  and  in  a  sense,  resulted  in  our  acquisition  of  the  North- 
west Territory,  for  had  we  not  acquired  Louisiana  it  is  im- 
probable that  the  Lewis  and  Clark  expedition  would  ever 
have  been  undertaken ;  and  not  only  did  their  visit  consti- 
tute an  important  link  in  our  chain  of  title,  but  the  interest 
excited  by  their  report  and  the  publication  of  their  journal 
did  more,  probably,  than  all  else  in  directing  and  attracting 
attention  to  the  marvelous  resources  and  natural  advantages 
of  this  section,  and  ultimately  in  its  settlement  by  citizens 
of  the  United  States. 

Certainly  Astor  and  the  missionaries  Whitman,  Lee  and 


Some  of  TTf.r  Lifk  T^xi-krifnces.  247 

others  arc  entitled  to  much  crc(Ht  for  what  they  did,  both  in 
the  matter  of  strengthening  our  title  by  occupancy  and  in- 
spiring immigration.  While  it  is  true  that  Astor  came  here 
primarily  and  avowedly  for  the  purpose  of  engaging  in  the 
fur  trade,  there  is  evidence  that  he,  also,  hoped  thereby  to  as- 
sist in  strengthening  the  title  of  the  United  States  to  the 
Northwest  Territory.  Indeed,  Irving  in  his  "Astoria"  directly 
states  that  such  was  one  of  the  motives  that  inspired  Mr. 
Astor  to  the  undertaking.  The  missionaries  probably  had 
little,  if  any,  thought  of  promoting  American  settlement  and 
possession  when  they  first  located  here,  but  they  subse- 
quently did  niuch  to  encourage  and  assist  such  immigration. 

The  actual  settlers,  however,  the  pioneers  of  1842-3,  were 
the  final  and  concluding  factors  in  securing  this  great  do- 
main to  the  United  States. 

The  cause  of  their  coming  cannot  fairly  be  credited  to 
any  particular  individual,  company  or  association.  In  truth, 
the  real  cause  was  that  mysterious,  resistless  force  that  has 
been  in  operation  throughout  the  centuries.  It  has  impelled 
the  migrations  of  mankind  with  a  power  as  unyielding,  as 
continuous  as  that  of  gravity  itself. 

It  carried  the  civilization  of  Greece  to  Rome ;  of  Rome 
throughout  Western  Europe ;  of  Europe  to  America ;  and  of 
America  to  the  islands  of  the  Pacific  seas. 

Professor  F.  G.  Young,  in  an  exceptionally  able  and  in- 
teresting article  published  in  the  Quarterly  of  the  Oregon 
Historical  Society,  December,  1900,  truly  says :  "In  a  sense 
the  Oregon  movement  was  in  preparation  from  the  time 
when,  in  1636,  Puritan  congregations  were  led  by  Hooker 
and  others  from  the  vicinity  of  Boston  westward  through 
the  forests  to  the  banks  of  the  Connecticut." 

The  statement  is  true,  but  I  think  he  might  with  equal 
truth  have  said  that  the  movement  was  then  in  execution,  as 
it  had  been  for  thousands  of  years  before.  For  centuries 
the  tide  of  emigration  has  set  westward,  due,  doubtless,  to 


248  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

the  love  of  adventure  ever  dominant  in  courageous,  hardy, 
restless  natures,  but  evidenced,  I  submit,  most  pronouncedly, 
most  strikingl}-,  in  1843,  by  a  thousand  men  and  women  vol- 
untarily quitting-  comfortable  and  secure  homes  and  dwell- 
ing places  and,  unattended  by  any  military  escort,  boldly 
plunging  into  the  very  heart  of  a  wild,  unknown,  practically 
unexplored  region,  inhabited  only  by  predatory  bands  of 
merciless  savages,  and  entering  upon  a  journey  of  two  thou- 
sand miles  through  such  a  region — a  journey  they  knew 
would  be  attended  with  hardships  and  dangers  that  no 
tongue  can  describe,  no  pencil  can  picture.  The  undertaking 
was  without  precedent,  and  it  will  remain  without  parallel. 
In  conception  and  execution,  those  wonderful,  marvelous 
journeys  rise  to  the  grandeur  of  an  epic,  worthy  of  com- 
memoration by  a  Homer  or  a  Virgil. 

The  immigration  of  1843  may  be  said,  I  think,  to  have 
been  the  real  substantial  beginning  of  the  permanent  occu- 
pation and  settlement  of  the  Oregon  country.  Like  a  mighty 
wave  from  an  exhaustless  sea  breaking  over  or  sweeping 
aside  every  barrier,  came  the  great  human  tide  of  that  mem- 
orable year.  Exhaustless,  in  truth,  was  the  sea,  and  the  tide 
never  ebbed,  and  the  wave  never  receded,  but  flowed  stead- 
ily, resistlessly  onward. 

Memorable,  indeed,  was  that  year.  It  witnessed  the  sov- 
ereignty of  this  republic  indelibly  stamped  upon  the  Ore- 
gon Country.  After  that  immigration  there  might  be  discus- 
sions, debates,  diplomatic  storms,  boundary  commissions, 
even  war,  but  the  firm  tread  of  a  thousand  American  settlers 
on  Oregon  soil  was  the  stamp  of  fate,  the  seal  of  sovereignty. 

Memorable,  also,  is  that  year,  because  of  the  great  names 
it  saw  added  to  Oregon's  roll-call  of  heroes — James  W.  Nes- 
mith,  Jesse  Applegate,  John  G.  Baker,  Daniel  Waldo, 
Thomas  G.  Naylor,  Peter  H.  Burnett  and  many  others  who 
became  distinguished  in  the  early  history  of  the  Northwest. 
The  greatest  of  these  were  Nesmith  and  Applegate,   both 


SoMi;  oi-   lli.R   Iji-I'-.   I'".NiMci<ii;.\f'i:s.  249 

men  of  excc])tionally  stront^  character  and  conspicuous  abil- 
ity. Ncsmith  was  the  stron^^cr,  comi)leter  man  of  the  two. 
He  will  ever  he  remembered  and  honored  in  Orej^on  for  the 
splendid  support  he  p:ave  to  the  Union  cause  during  the 
civil  war.  11u)U,qh  clerU'd  to  the  Senate  of  the  United 
States  as  a  Democrat,  he  gave  to  President  Lincoln  and  his 
policies  earnest  and  loyal  sui:)port,  and,  being  a  man  of  ex- 
ceptional ability,  his  su])|)orl  was  of  great  value  to  the  ad- 
ministration and  reflected  luster  and  honor  on  our  state. 

No  matter  how  often  or  in  what  distant  years  the  roll  of 
Oregon's  great  and  honored  names  shall  be  called,  the  name 
of  Nesmith  will  ever  be  found  in  the  list,  for  his  name  and 
fame  will  only  grow  grander  and  brighter  as  time  wheels 
onward  in  its  unwearied,  unending  flight. 

But  should  you  ask  me  who  of  all  those  heroic  hosts  are 
entitled  to  the  highest  praise  and  admiration,  whom,  above 
all  others,  we  should  reverence  and  honor  for  exceptional 
courage  and  fidelity,  my  answer  would  be :  "The  women,  the 
pioneer  w^omen  of  Oregon."  History  furnishes  no  record  of 
more  genuine  heroines  than  were  they. 

That  men  should  willingly  subject  themselves  to  hardships 
and  dangers  such  as  the  pioneers  were  compelled  to  face 
and  endure,  though  suf^ciently  remarkable,  is  not  incredible. 
But  that  refined,  cultivated,  delicately-reared  women  as  read- 
ily undertook  the  journey,  as  calmly  faced  the  dangers  and 
endured  the  hardships,  will  be  deemed  a  myth  in  ages  to 
come,  and  some  future  poet  may  be  expected  to  picture  them 
as  an  Amazon  race. 

Picture  in  your  own  mind,  if  you  can,  what  must  have 
been  their  trials  and  sufferings  on  that  long,  weary,  trying 
journey.  Children  \vere  sometimes  born  on  the  way.  How 
terrible  must  have  been  the  physical  and  mental  suffering 
of  a  mother,  nursing  her  }-oung  babe  in  the  fearful  heat  and 
dust  of  a  long  wagon  train,  crossing  an  alkali  desert  with 
the  bed  of  a  freight  w^agon  for  a  mattress,  and  harrassed  by 


350  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair, 

the  knowledge  that  merciless  savages  might  be  lurking  about 
the  trail  seeking  an  opportunity  to  attack. 

And  then  the  women  had  their  work  to  do,  and  plenty  of 
it,  cooking  at  the  campfires,  with  little  to  cook,  and  less 
wherewith  to  cook  it.  But  there  were  hungry  mouths  to 
fill ;  little  folks  were  tired,  fretful  and  impatient,  and  all 
called  on  mother  for  help.  Mother  must  do  this,  and  mother 
must  do  that.  Mother !  What  a  world  of  love  and  gentle- 
ness does  that  word,  that  sacred  name,  imply.  Mother  must 
cheer  up  all.  Teach  patience  here,  encourage  there,  and  min- 
ister everywhere.  And  when  the  long  journey  was  ended, 
and  the  pioneer  home  made,  how  much  need  then  of  domes- 
tic sunshine ;  and  was  it  not  the  little  wife  and  mother  who 
supplied  the  most  of  it?  Then  there  were  clothes  to  make, 
yarn  to  spin,  and  cloth  to  be  woven  in  the  loom,  new  stock- 
ings to  knit,  old  ones  to  mend,  and  all  this,  also,  must  mother 
do.  At  the  same  time,  she  must  be  chambermaid,  house- 
maid, cook,  milkmaid,  and  maid  of  all  work.  Yet  it  is  mar- 
velous what  cheer  she  provided  with  so  little,  so  very  little 
oftentimes,  wherewith  to  provide  it. 

Would  we  evidence  our  appreciation  of  the  highest  cour- 
age, the  purest  patriotism,  the  most  profound  devotion  to 
home  and  country  of  which  history  has  any  record,  we  would 
erect  on  some  historic  spot  in  this,  our  beloved  state,  a  monu- 
ment— a  splendid  monument  of  whitest  marble — and  dedi- 
cate it  to  the  memory  of  the  world's  greatest  heroines,  the 
pioneer  women  of  Oregon — they  who  did,  dared  and  suf- 
fered more  than  all  others  to  reclaim  the  Northwest  country 
from  savagery  and  the  wilderness  and  preserve  it  as  part  of 
the  domain  of  this  republic. 

But  for  their  courage,  their  sacrifices  and  their  devotion 
the  towering  peaks  of  Hood,  St.  Helen  and  Rainier  would 
this  day  stand  as  the  silent  sentinels  of  British  sovereignty 
and  the  British  flag.  Yet  what  monument  can  we  erect  to 
them  that  will  endure  as  long  as  their  memory  will  be  hon- 


Some  of  Her  Lite  Experiences,  2.')1 

ored  and  revered?  Their  glorious  achievements,  their  noble 
lives  and  characters  constitute  an  imperishable  monument  to 
the  hig-hest  type  of  American  womanhood. 

Many  of  them  have  already  passed  over  to  the  last  grand 
camping-  ground.  Those  who  yet  remain  with  us  are  even 
now  entering  the  darkening  shadows  of  the  falling  night, 
yet  above  and  beyond  the  shadow  and  the  darkness  they  be- 
hold the  gathering  dawn  of  a  new  and  a  grander  day.  For 
whatever  reward  is  given  in  the  future  life  for  duty  faith- 
fully discharged  here  has  surely  been  earned  by  them  in 
full,  rounded  and  heaping  measure.  x\s  they  pass  from 
amongst  us  we  will  place  their  sacred  forms  at  rest  on  the 
banks  of  the  noble  rivers  which  their  fidelity  preserved  to 
this  people.  There  they  shall  sleep  throughout  the  cen- 
turies, lulled  by  the  murmuring  waters  as  they  flow  "onward 
and  past  us  forever,"  while  the  snow-capped  dome  of  Hood, 
emblematic  of  their  purity,  elevation  and  sublimity  of  char- 
acter, shall  stand  and  be  known  as  their  monument  through- 
out the  ages. 

From  that  lofty  summit  will  look  down  upon  them  and 
the  vast  domain  which  their  devotion  secured  to  this  na- 
tion, not  forty  centuries  only,  but  eternity  itself. 


252  Di!.  Owens  -  Adair. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

In  selecting  these  six  names  from  the  roll  of  honored  Clat- 
sop pioneers  who  materially  aided  in  the  upbuilding  of  As- 
toria, the  first  city  founded  on  the  Northwest  Coast,  "the 
Venice  of  Oregon,"  I  would  not  convey  the  impression  that 
there  were  not  many  more  equally  worthy.  But  these  were 
m}"  friends.  I  knew  and  loved  them  for  their  man}^ 
lovable  qualities.  Differing  widely  from  each  other,  they 
all  possessed  in  a  marked  degree  qualities  worthy  of  admira- 
tion and  love. 

Love  has  countless  sources  from  which  to  spring,  count- 
less roots  through  which  to  feed  and  flourish.  There  is  the 
love  of  parent  and  child,  of  family  and  friends ;  the  love  of 
sex ;  hero  worship,  or  love ;  the  love  of  intellect  and  soul ;  of 
fame,  wealth  and  power ;  the  love  of  the  grand  and  beautiful 
in  nature ;  and  last,  but  by  no  means  least,  the  love  of  God 
and  humanity. 

It  is  time  the  world  ceased  giving  but  the  one  narrow  sex 
definition  to  that  mightiest  and  broadest  of  all  words — 
Love. 

JOHN   HOBSON. 

Mr. John  Hobson  was  born  in  England  in  1824,  and  came 
to  the  United  States  in  early  boyhood. 

With  his  father,  sisters  and  brother,  the  late  Richard  Hob- 
son,  he  crossed  the  plains  in  1843.  They  and  my  father's 
family  were  in  the  same  division,  which  brought  the  two 
families  very  closely  together,  an  association  which  grew 
into  a  lasting  friendship  and  later  resulted  in  a  permanent 
relationship. 

John  was  a  strong,  healthy  lad  of  19,  who,  by  his  faithful, 
untiring,  unselfish  labors  in  camp  and  on  all  the  long,  tedious 


Somp:  ()!••  IIkk  Ijif.  ICxi-I'.uii'.nces.  253 

and  unbroken  road,  won  a.placr  in  my  niotlicr's  heart  which 
he  never  lost. 

Soon- after  reaehint;-  ()re|L;on,  liis  father  and  mine  located 
on  Clatsop,  but  a  few  miles  apart,  and  both  witliin  the 
sound  of  the  mighty  music  of  earth's  grandest  sea. 

Here  John  at  once  set  about  assisting  his  fatlicr  in  the 
support  of  the  motherless  younger  members  of  his  family. 
This  brought  him  into  our  family  much  of  the  time,  until 
his  marriage  with  my  beautiful  sister  Diana. 

As  a  boy,  Mr.  Hobson  was  honest,  faithful,  truthful  and 
industrious,  never  shirking  any  duty,  and  as  "the  boy  is 
father  to  the  man,"  so  he  grew  into  a  clean,  pure  manhood. 

In  all  my  association  with  him,  which  extended  over  fifty 
years,  I  never  heard  him  give  expression  to  an  oath  or  a 
foul  word,  which  was  the  more  remarkable,  considering  early 
rough  customs  and  contaminating  influences.  He  was  quiet 
and  unassuming  and,  withal,  one  of  the  most  modest  men  I 
ever  knew,  so  much  so  that  it  became  the  subject  of  ridicule 
with  people  by  no  means  his  equal.  There  was  no  rough- 
ness or  coarseness  about  him.  He  went  right  on,  attending 
strictly  to  his  own  business  and  meddling  with  that  of  none. 
He  never  forgot  his  early  time  of  struggles  and  privations, 
vdiich  fitted  him  for  a  life  of  thrift  and  frugality.  He  was. 
in  truth,  a  "self-made  man,"  having  had  less  than  one  year's 
schooling  in  his  boyhood. 

I  have  frequently  heard  him  relate  how  he  learned  to 
read,  spell  and  cipher  in  the  old  pioneer  way  by  the  light 
of  a  tow  string  in  a  mug  of  dirty  grease ;  but  he  had  a  most 
remarkable  memory,  particularly  for  names  and  dates,  and, 
in  fact,  for  everything.  Like  a  sponge,  he  a.bsorbed  in- 
formation, and  then  stored  it  up  for  future  use,  to  be  called 
up  at  will. 

I  well  remember  that  after  his  and  my  sister's  trip  to 
Roseburg  in  1858,  when  I  returned  to  Clatsop  with  them, 
he  could  not  onlv  recall  ever^"  man  and  woman  he  met  going 


254  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

and  coming,  but  he  could  give  their  names  and  all  the  de- 
tails of  what  they  had  said  and  done.  His  eyes  were  ever 
open  to  all  that  went  on  around  him.  No  one  could  have 
written  the  history  of  Oregon  in  detail  with  more  accuracy 
than  could  he.    Many  a  time  have  I  said  to  him : 

"Oh,  John,  what  a  shame  it  is  to  let  so  much  of  Oregon's 
history  die  with  you !  Do  begin  now  and  write  down  all 
those  early  facts  before  it  is  too  late." 

But  he  never  had  any  confidence  in  his  own  literary  abil- 
ity, and  he  always  under-rated  himself  in  all  respects,  so  it 
was  never  done.  He  was  a  good  and  constant  reader,  and 
was  unusually  well  informed.  He  had  even  a  remarkable 
knowledge  of  geography,  and  always  kept  posted  on  what 
was  being  done  at  home  and  abroad.  In  reality  he  was  edu- 
cated in  all  the  essentials  of  life,  through  his  thorough  diges- 
tion of  his  extensive  reading,  though,  of  course,  deficient  in 
the  rudiments.  He  could  have  made  a  fine  linguist,  as  he 
had  no  trouble  in  picking  up  any  language  with  which  he 
came  in  contact.  He  acquired  the  Indian  jargon  then  so 
much  in  use  so  quickly  and  thoroughly,  imitating  the  dif- 
ficult guttural  sounds  so  perfectly  that  a  listener  out  of 
sight  of  the  parties  talking  could  not  distinguish  his  speech 
from  that  of  the  Indian  with  whom  he  was  conversing.  In 
addition,  he  also  learned  much  of  the  native  Indian  tongue, 
which  the  Indians  were  greatly  averse  to  using  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  whites,  and  by  this  knowledge  he  more  than  once 
obtained  information  of  great  value  to  our  people. 

After  the  tragic  death  of  the  wife  of  Governor  Gaines 
Mr.  Hobson,  by  the  advice  of  my  father,  purchased  the  gov- 
ernor's farm,  as  he  and  my  sister  Diana  were  shortly  to  be 
married.  Here  they  lived  for  many  years,  making  their 
home  the  most  beautiful  on  Clatsop  at  that  time,  and  here, 
surrounded  with  luscious  fruits  and  the  sweet  fragrance  of 
flowers  they  passed  the  springtime  of  their  wedded  life. 
Here  all  theii-  five  children,  except  baby  Maude  (now  Mrs. 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  255 

Clyde  Fulton,  of  Astoria),  were  born,  amid  the  sinj^inj^  of 
birds,  the  humniinj^  of  bees  and  the  sweet  breath  of  gor- 
geous and  beautiful  blossoms. 

My  sister's  home  was  a  model  of  neatness  and  sweetness, 
made  charming  by  all  that  nature,  intelligence  and  industry 
combined  could  create  and  provide. 

Later  they  removed  to  Astoria,  where  Mr.  Hobson  and 
Mr.  D.  K.  Warren  became  partners  in  the  grocer's  and 
butcher's  business  combined.  I  have  often  heard  Mr.  Hob- 
son  say  that  during  all  their  business  relations  not  one  un- 
pleasant word  ever  passed  between  them.  With  two  such 
upright,  unselfish  and  conscientious  men  there  arose  no  oc- 
casion for  unpleasantness,  and  there  was  none,  notwithstand- 
ing one  was  a  Republican  and  the  other  a  Democrat.  How 
well  if  all  men  would  emulate  their  example ! 

Mr.  Hobson  was  appointed  Collector  of  Customs  at  the 
Port  of  Astoria  under  the  administration  of  President  Cleve- 
land, and  filled  the  position  with  credit  to  himself  and  liis 
constituents  at  large. 

After  my  sister's  death,  which  occurred  in  1874,  Mr. 
Hobson,  several  years  later,  married  a  second  time,  con- 
tinuing to  live  at  the  family  residence  in  Astoria,  where 
three  more  children  were  born  to  him.  There,  in  1896,  he 
died,  surrounded  by  his  good  wife,  Anna,  and  all  their  chil- 
dren, and  was  lovingly  and  reverently  laid  to  rest,  with  the 
wife  of  his  youth  on  his  right,  and  a  vacancy  on  his  left 
which  was  filled  within  the  year  by  the  faithful  mother  of  his 
three  younger  children,  who  are  now  all  grown  and  taking 
their  part  worthily  in  life.  The  relations  betw-een  the  two 
families  have  always  been,  and  still  are,  most  harmonious 
and  pleasant. 

COLONEL   JAMES   TAYLOR. 

Colonel  James  Taylor  was  born  in  1809,  and  came  to  Ore- 
gon in  18-14.  He  was  a  man  of  education,  refinement  and 
courtly  bearing,  yet  possessing  in  full  measure  those  sturdy 


256  D«.  Owens  -  Adair. 

qualities  of  forceful  energy,  determination,  bravery  and  per- 
severance indispensable  to  the  successful  pioneer.  He  began 
life  as  a  farmer,  in  which  occupation  his  cultivation  and  re- 
finement was  no  bar  to  his  success. 

Later,  removing  to  Astoria  for  educational  advantages 
for  his  children,  he'  built  a  beautiful  home,  where  he  and  his 
charming  wife  dispensed  the  most  delightful  and  generous 
hospitality,  not  alone  to  his  fellow-townsmen,  but  to  the 
whole  state,  whose  best  people  felt  honored  by  its  bestowal. 

Colonel  Taylor  was  an  ideal  husband  and  father,  an  ideal 
citizen,  and  a  noble  "epistle  to  be  known  and  read  of  all 
men."  His  chivalry  and  sympathy  were  so  great  that  to  him 
no  human  creature  was  too  poor  or  mean  to  be  treated  with 
consideration  and  respect,  and  his  salute  to  a  poor,  mixed 
breed  woman  was  as  courtly  as  if  she  were  the  highest  lady 
in  the  land.  I  have  seen  him  take  the  child  of  a  poorly 
dressed  woman  from  her  arms  and  assist  her  off  the  un- 
steady boat  to  the  slippery  landing  with  not  only  the  grace 
of  a  Chesterfield,  but  what  is  better,  the  true  kindness  of  a 
Christian  gentleman.  He  seemed  to  see  the  angel  in  every 
human  "house  of  cla}',"  and  do  it  homage.  He  was  such  a 
lover  of  home,  country  and  humanity  that  he  was  as  truly 
the  loyal,  chivalrous,  hospitable  gentleman  at  home  as 
abroad.  I  believe  he  was  never  guilty  of  a  dishonorable 
thought  or  act.  There  was  in  him  a  reverent  regard  for  the 
individuality  of  every  human  being  such  as  I  have  rarely 
seen  ec[ualed  in  any  other,  and  it  was  the  root  of  his  pro- 
found consideration  for  even  the  humblest,  a  quality  which, 
to  my  mind,  adds  a  charm  to  personal  independence.  In- 
deed, it  is  true  nobility.  All  this,  and  more.  Colonel  James 
Taylor  proved  himself  to  me  during  my  early  struggles  in 
Astoria.  He  always  met  me  with  a  gracious  smile  and  a 
warm  shake  of  the  hand. 

During  the  early  days  of  the  civil  war  a  company  of 
United  States  soldiers  was  stationed  at  Fort  Canby,  fifteen 


Some  of  Her  LifI';  Experiences.  257 

miles  from  Astoria.  As  usual,  the  officers  were  ready  and 
anxious  to  entertain,  especially  as  they  had  handsome  quar- 
ters. They  had  only  the  town  of  Astoria  from  which  to 
draw  for  guests,  and,  being  strangers  to  all,  they  were  ob- 
liged to  depend  upon  some  resident  to  fill  out  a  list  of 
guests  for  their  invitation.  Naturally  their  choice  for  this 
duty  fell  upon  Colonel  Taylor,  who,  in  fulfilling  it,  did  what 
only  an  unusually  broad-minded  man  would  have  done  in 
those  days  of  strife  and  hatred,  and  showed  his  good  judg- 
ment and  magnanimity  (being  himself  a  strong  "Union" 
man)  by  including  in  the  list  members  of  both  political  par- 
ties. Nor  did  he  forget  the  lowly  widow,  and  it  was  to  him 
that  I  owed  my  passport  to  the  charmed  circle  of  "Brass 
Button"  society.  Many  were  the  brilliant,  and  to  Astorians, 
then,  unexcelled  entertainments  given  by  those  esteemed  of- 
ficers at  Fort  Canby,  and  in  return  the  citizens  and  heads  of 
invited  families  did  their  utmost  to  reciprocate  their  atten- 
tions in  kind  by  social '  functions  in  their  own  homes. 

Colonel  Taylor  had  the  misfortune  to  break  his  leg  by  the 
fall  of  his  horse  when  he  was  past  80  years  of  age,  yet  he 
recovered  from  this  injury  quickly  and  without  deformity, 
which  is  very  unusual  at  that  time  of  life.  His  uniform 
kindness  and  politeness  never  failed  him  during  those  try- 
ing weeks  of  enforced  idleness  and  weariness.  Truly  he 
was,  beyond  all  question,  one  of  "Nature's  noblemen." 

CAPTAIN  GEORGE  FLAVEL. 

Captain  George  Flavel  came  to  Astoria  at  a  very  early 
date  in  its  history  and  identified  himself  with  its  seafaring 
interests  continuously,  directly  or  indirectly,  up  to  the  time 
of  his  death  in  189.  . 

Little  is  known  of  his  early  life,  as  he  was  of  a  proud  and 
reticent  nature,  which  repelled  any  inquiry  into  his  private 
afifairs ;  not  that  there  was,  presumably,  anything  to  conceal, 
for  during  the  whole  of  his  long  life  in  Astoria,  which  was 


258  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

open  to  all,  his  honor  was  unquestioned,  and  he  invariably 
showed  the  greatest  scorn  for  hypocrisy  or  meanness  of  any 
description.  But  there  was  a  dignity  and  reserve  in  his 
demeanor  which  even  those  nearest  him  did  not  venture  to 
attempt  to  break  through. 

He  was  not  unapproachable,  however,  for  any  worthy  ob- 
ject, as  many  solicitors  for  aid  to  deserving  charities  can 
testify,  and  he  could  and  did  give  excellent  advice  when 
asked  for  it.  He  never  offered  it  unasked,  for  his  business 
acumen  was  of  the  best,  as  exemplified  by  his  own  success 
in  acquiring  an  independent  fortune  by  his  judicious  man- 
agement, as  well  as  by  his  personal  industry  and  daring. 
For  in  those  early  days  the  only  pilot  boat  on  the  Columbia 
bar  was  a  small  schooner,  and  the  life  of  a  pilot,  which  was 
for  years  his  occupation,  was  anything  but  a  safe  or  easy 
one. 

Many  were  the  hair-breadth  escapes  of  the  seafaring  men 
of  that  time.  On  the  occasion  of  the  loss  of  the  steamer 
General  Warren,  in  1853,  Captain  Flavel  was  on  board  of 
her  as  pilot,  but  the  ship's  captain  insisted  on  crossing  the 
bar  in  the  evening,  against  the  judgment  of  the  pilot,  and 
she  went  aground  on  a  sandbar.  Captain  Flavel,  with  two 
other  men,  embarked  in  a  small  boat  on  the  desperate  and 
only  chance  of  obtaining  assistance.  They  battled  with  the 
waves  and  in  the  darkness  for  hours,  guided  only  by  the 
seaman's  experience  and  instinct  and,  finally,  when  almost 
exhausted  and  despairing,  they  succeeded  in  making  a  suc- 
cessful landing  at  daylight  on  Clatsop  Beach  through  the 
surf.  They  were  the  only  souls  saved,  the  rough  seas  of 
the  turning  tide  having  beaten  the  doomed  ship  to  pieces  and 
drowned  all  on  board  before  aid  could  reach  her. 

I  stood  in  great  awe  of  Captain  Flavel  in  my  early  life.  I 
did  not  even  dream  that  he  ever  thought  of  or  even  noticed 
my  struggles  until  1872,  when  I  was  en  route  to  Philadel- 
phia to  enter  a  medical  school. 


Some  of  Hick  Lifi-:  Experiences.  259 

He  then  said  to  Mr.  Hobson,  who  was  a  close  friend  of 
his:  "That  woman  deserves  great  praise.  She  has  accom- 
pHshed  more  through  her  own  efforts  than  any  woman  I 
ever  knew." 

His  vokintary-  eulogy  I  have  always  treasured  and  prized 
far  more  than  gold.  I  knew  from  that  time  on  that  Captain 
Flavel  had  been  and  was  my  friend,  and  the  knowledge  was 
a  tower  of  strength  to  me. 

In  later  years,  when  I  no  longer  feared  to  approach  him,  I 
saw  more  of  him  and  knew  him  better,  especially  after  I 
went  to  live  at  Sunnymead  farm  and  he  had  purchased 
Tansy  Point  and  other  property  adjoining,  now  known  as 
"Flavel,"  where  he  so  loved  to  sojourn  and  work  during  his 
declining  years.  We  often  met  at  this  time,  going  to  and 
from  Astoria,  frequently  engaging  in  conversations  wdiich 
afforded  us  much  pleasure,  and  he  often  invited  me  to  his 
home. 

The  following  incident  illustrates  the  character  of  the 
man.  When  he  sold  his  Tansy  Point  property  for  $350,000 
he  was  to  receive  $100,000  down,  the  payment  of  which  was 
made  in  the  form  of  a  check.  I  was  told  that  he  received  it, 
glanced  at  it,  crumpled  it  in  his  hand  and  thrust  it  down 
into  his  pantaloons  pocket.  Then,  taking  up  the  mortgage 
for  $250,000,  he  strolled  leisurely  down  to  the  court  house  to 
have  it  placed  on  record.  Later,  when  the  proprietors  of 
Flavel  were  trying  to  "boom"  their  newly-acquired  purchase, 
they  gave  a  grand  clam-bake,  which  was  held  on  their 
grounds. 

Residents  of  Astoria  and  Clatsop  were  out  in  full  force, 
with  waving  banners,  decorations  and  archways,  to  receive 
and  escort  the  speakers  and  the  poet  of  the  day  and  the  sev- 
eral hundreds  of  guests  from  Portland  as  they  came  steam- 
ing up  to  Flavel,  amid  the  flutter  of  flags,  the  screaming  of 
whistles  and  inspiring  strains  of  music  by  the  band.  It  was 
indeed   a    great    day.      Before    leaving    for   home,    Captain 


260  .  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

Flavel  came  to  me  and  said :  "Well,  doctor,  this  is  truly 
wonderful !    You  and  I  never  expected  to  see  this  day." 

"No,  captain,"  I  said,  "but  I  hope  we  may  live  to  see  the 
realization  of  all  the  prophecies  that  have  been  made  to- 
day." 

Captain  Flavel  had  a  will  of  iron,  with  which  he  did  not 
fail  to  control  himself,  as  well  as  others.  He  was  a  born 
commander,  but  a  magnanimous  one,  and  working  men  were 
eager  to  be  employed  by  him,  for,  if  he  exacted  the  best  of 
service,  so,  also,  did  he  pay  the  best  of  wages,  with  most 
gratifying  promptness,  adding  generous  commendation  when 
deserved.  Astoria  bears  the  impress  of  his  master  hand  on 
almost  every  corner,  but  never  for  ill.  He  was  loyal  to  the 
little  city  of  his  adoption,  and  made  his  interests  largely 
hers.  Her  finest  buildings  were  erected  by  him,  and  much 
of  the  money  he  made  was  put  into  the  place  where  it  was 
amassed. 

Beneath  a  sometimes  brusque  exterior  he  carried  a  noble 
heart,  which  appreciated  the  fearless,  disinterested  spirit 
who  dared  to  appeal  to  his  generosity,  and  many  times  he 
made  such  spirit  glad  by  bestowing  five-fold  what  was  asked 
for  a  worthy  cause. 

It  almost  seemed  that  not  even  disease  could  conquer  that 
indomitable  will,  and  he  resisted  long  before  he  succumbed 
to  the  "Fell  Destroyer." 

"Even  Death  itself  stands  still. 
And  waits  an  hour,  sometimes,  for  such  a  will." 

W.  W.  PAKKER. 

Mr.  W.  W.  Parker  came  from  Vermont  to  Oregon,  via 
California,  in  the  spring  of  1852. 

He  engaged  passage  on  the  steamer  Panama  (built  by  the 
Aspinwalls),  the  first  steamer  that  ever  left  New  York  for 
the   Pacific   Coast   by   way   of   Cape   Horn.     The   steamer 


SoMK  oi'^  TTkr  f.ii'i-:  Exi'i;iuENCES.  2G1 

started  with  only  lw(3  passengers,  but  before  she  reached  San 
Francisco  she  was  crowded  with  g'old  seekers  from  all  along 
the  western  coast,  the  news  of  the  discovery  of  the  Cali- 
fornia gold  mines  having  only  been  made  public  since  she 
had  rounded  the  Horn. 

Mr.  Parker  was  then  but  twenty-four  years  of  age.  He 
had  educatotl  himself,  after  gaining  all  the  village  school 
could  give  him,  at  Norwich  University,  Vermont,  where 
there  was  also  a  military  school,  at  which  he  took  a  three 
years'  course  in  addition  to  his  other  studies.  His  father 
objected  to  his  having  more  than  a  common  school  educa- 
tion, saying  it  would  be  of  no  practical  use  and,  though 
well-to-do,  declined  to  assist  him.  However,  his  desire  for 
knowledge  overcame  all  opposition,  and  he,  with  his  elder 
brother.  Freeman,  worked  their  way  through  the  univer- 
sity, living  on  the  plainest  fare,  earning  their  books,  fees, 
food  and  rent  by  sawing  wood,  and  literally  "sleeping  on  a 
board"  during  the  three  years  in  the  military  school,  that 
being  a  part  of  the  military  training  in  those  days.  At  the 
end  of  the  course,  there  being  no  war  in  prospect,  Mr.  Par- 
ker decided  not  to  continue  in  the  military  line  and.  as  he 
was  offered  an  excellent  situation  in  the  copper  mines  of 
Lake  Superior  as  a  civil  engineer,  civil  engineering  being  a 
science  in  which  he  especially  excelled,  he  accepted  it,  and 
spent  two  years  in  those  world-famous  mines  in  Northern 
Michigan,  where,  according  to  a  record  kept  by  him,  thirty- 
six  feet  of  snow  fell  one  winter. 

Returning  to  New  England,  the  Western  fever  seized  him, 
and,  as  before  said,  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  years  he 
started  from  New  York  to  the  then  practically  unknown  Pa- 
cific Coast  in  October,  1848,  the  same  month  of  the  same 
year  in  which  his  future  wife  arrived  in  Oregon. 

On  his  arrival  in  San  Francisco,  then  but  a  village  of 
tents  on  a  sandy  beach,  he  rolled  out  from  the  hold  of  the 
steamship  his  only  possession  in  the  world  (beside  his  trunk 


262  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

of  clothing"),  a  half  barrel  of  hardware,  consisting  of  dirk 
knives,  saws,  hammers,  shovels,  axes  and  like  useful  arti- 
cles in  a  new  country,  in  which,  with  true  "Yankee"  thrift 
and  foresight,  he  had  invested  his  last  $50  after  securing  his 
steamer  ticket. 

These  he  "auctioned"  off  on  the  spot,  receiving  from  the 
sale  over  $600.  After  spending  less  than  a  month  in  the 
mines  (making  $20  a  day  every  day  he  was  there),  having 
no  taste  for  mining,  he  returned  to  San  Francisco  and  en- 
gaged in  hotel  keeping,  his  first  hotel  being  all  of  cloth  ex- 
cepting the  •  necessary  wooden  corner  supports.  Men 
thronged  to  the  mines  from  all  parts  of  the  United  States, 
and  his  business  was  immense.  He  paid  his  cook  $600  per 
month  and  his  baker  $4:00.  "Saleratus"  was  $16  a  pound, 
and  other  food  supplies  were  correspondingly  high,  yet  in 
one  year  he  had  cleared  $20,000. 

This  he  put  into  a  better  hotel,  and  soon  after  lost  it  all  in 
one  night  by  fire,  with  the  exception  of  $1000  in  the  bank. 

Mr.  Parker  was  a  member  of  that  first  famous  "Vigilance 
Committee"  organized  by  the  law-abiding  citizens  in  San 
Francisco,  in  the  absence  of  legally  established  courts,  to 
deal  with  criminals  and  stamp  out  crime,  which  was  becom- 
ing rampant.  After  a  few  of  the  murderous  thugs  were 
summarily  strung  up  to  lamp  posts  by  this  committee  com- 
parative law  and  order  was  restored. 

And  now,  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight,  Mr.  Parker  went  on 
a  sailing  vessel  to  Astoria,  Oregon,  where  he  cast  his  lot, 
identifying  himself  with  and  laboring  for  the  interests  of  his 
adopted  home  city  and  state  until  his  death  forty-seven 
years  later. 

He  was  always  public-spirited,  giving  much  time  and 
thought  to  the  civic  welfare  of  his  city  and  state  and,  in- 
deed, to  that  of  his  whole  country. 

He  was  active  in  establishing  the  first  public  schools  in 
Astoria ;   though   then   without   a    family   of   his   own,    and 


SoMic  ()!•    llicK  I. IKK  Experiences,  2G3 

tliou.qli  not  liiinscif  n  cliiircli  nK'nihcr,  he  believed  in 
cluirclics,  and  aided  in  building'  and  supporting'  them.  He 
helped  organize  the  (Irst  Icmpcrance  society  in  Clatsop 
county  and  afterward,  when  he  was  representing^  his  county 
in  the  r.ct,dslature  he  worked  hard  for  the  temperance  bill, 
a  ])etiti()n  from  the  citizens  in  favor  of  which  was  con- 
temptuously voted  to  be  "thrown  under  the  table"  by  a  ma- 
jority of  that  honorable  body. 

He  served  as  postmaster  of  Astoria  at  one  time  and  later 
was  elected  mayor  of  the  city.  He  was  twelve  years  deputy 
collector  of  customs  for  the  port  of  Astoria,  serving  so 
ably  under  one  collector  that  he  was  retained  for  two  more 
terms  by  the  two  collectors  following. 

It  was  he  who  was  mainly  instrumental  in  securing  the 
construction  of  the  splendid  system  of  water  w'orks  of  which 
Astoria  is  so  justly  proud,  and  which  will  ever  stand  as  a 
monument  to  his  memory.  He  was  for  years,  up  to  his 
death,  president  of  the  Water  Commission,  and  his  name  is 
carved  above  the  stone  entrance  to  the  great  city  reservoir, 
placed  there  by  his  fellow-citizens  in  recognition  of  his 
gratuitous  services  so  untiringly  given  to  this  arduous  work 
till  its  successful  completion,  from  first  to  last. 

He  was  of  a  most  equable  temper,  and  uniformly  kind  and 
genial  in  his  home  life.  A  staunch  believer  in  equal  rights, 
he  put  his  views  into  daily  practice  in  his  domestic  relation-, 
thus  showing  that  he  possessed  one  of  the  main  essential 
attributes  of  the  ideal  husband. 

He  was  married  in  July,  1863,  to  ]\Iiss  Inez  E.  Adams, 
my  old  schoolmate  and  lifelong  friend. 

He  used  neither  intoxicants  nor  tobacco,  and  he  preferred 
simply-prepared  food  to  that  highly  seasoned  with  condi- 
ments. He  was  a  man  of  pure  life,  as  an  incident  in  my  own 
experience  will  go  to  prove. 

About  the  time  I  was  moving  to  Astoria,  our  boat  on  one 
occasion  landed  in  the  lower  part  of  town,  and  as  I  \vas 


264  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

walking  up  the  street  next  to  the  water  toward  the  business 
center  I  met  Mr.  Parker  going  toward  his  home,  his  gaze  di- 
rected downward,  seemingly  unconscious  of  his  surround- 
ings. 

"Why,  how  do  you  do,  Mr.  Parker,"  I  said. 

He  was  passing  on  without  reply,  when  I  raised  my  voice, 
thinking  he  had  not  heard  me,  and  repeated :  "How  do  you 
do,  Mr.  Parker?" 

He  kept  his  head  down,  made  some  indistinct  sound,  and 
tried  again  to  pass  me,  when  I  placed  myself  directly  in 
front  of  him,  saying : 

"How  do  you  do,  Mr.  Parker!    Don't  you  know  me?" 

He  then  for  the  first  time  looked  at  me,  and  exclaimed : 

"Well,  well,  doctor,  how  do  you  do?  I  did  not  expect  to 
see  you  here." 

"Why  not  here?"  I  asked. 

"Well,"  said  he,  smiling,  "we  don't  often  meet  ladies  on 
this  street." 

"Why,  what  is  the  matter  of  this  street?"  I  queried. 

"Well,  this  neighborhood  is  called  'Swill-town,'  "  he  an- 
swered. 

I  laughed  heartily,  saying :  "So  you  thought  I  was  one 
of  the  denizens  of  the  'demi-monde,'  did  you?" 

I  was  not  then  as  well  acquainted  with  the  town  as  I 
afterward  became,  but  had  I  been  and  business  had  required 
it  I  should  not  have  hesitated  to  pass  through  any  neigh- 
borhood in  order  to  reach  my  destination. 

CAPTAIN    J.    W.   MUNSON. 

Captain  J.  W.  Munson  was  born  December  25th,  1818,  in 
Washington  county.  New  York,  where  he  spent  his  boyhood. 

He  came  to  Oregon  in  1853,  by  way  of  Panama,  and  lo- 
cated first  at  Oak  Point,  where  he  was  employed  as  a  mill- 
wright for  one  year,  during  which  time  he  never  lost  a  day, 
besides  working  many  nights.     On  the  completion  of  this 


Some  oI'-  IIi;k  \.\\'E  Exi'kkiences.  2G5 

job,  as  he  often  hius^hinj^ly  told,  he  had  "a  hat  full  of  $20 
pieces  and  didn't  know  what  to  do  with  them." 

When  he  first  reached  Oak  Point  he  had  remaining  just 
one  $r>  piece,  bearing-  date  of  1840.  This  he  kept,  and  after- 
ward presented  to  his  wife,  who  wears  it  attached  to  her 
watch  chain  as  a  souvenir. 

After  the  completion  of  the  Oak  Point  mill  Mr.  Munson 
came  to  Astoria,  working  at  the  cari)entcr's  trade.  Pie  built 
Dr.  C.  J.  Trenchard's  residence,  which  was  the  first  house 
of  consequence  in  Astoria  at  that  time,  and  it  is  still  a  good 
house,  although  over  fifty  years  old.  Mr.  Munson  said  that 
during  the  time  he  was  working  on  that  house  he  often 
saw  bear  and  elk  come  down  and  drink  from  the  small 
stream  running  past  near  by.  That  portion  of  Astoria  was 
then  covered  with  tall,  dense  timber. 

In  1857  Mr.  Munson  went  to  Oysterville,  Wash.,  where 
he  remained  six  years,  engaged  in  the  oyster  business. 

In  1859  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Sophia  Kimball,  of 
Clatsop  Plains.  In  1865  he  was  appointed  light  keeper  at 
Cape  Disappointment  (now  Fort  Canby),  which  position  he 
held  till  1878,  after  which  he  moved  to  Astoria  and  built  the 
steamer  Magnet,  which  he  ran  in  his  own  interest  until  1881, 
when  he  received  the  appointment  of  keeper  of  the  light  at 
Point  Adams,  which  he  occupied  till  October,  1898,  when  he' 
retired  on  account  of  ill-health,  and  died  at  Skipanon.  Ore- 
gon, March  22nd,  1899. 

Mr.  Munson  might  well  be  called  a  "diamond  in  the 
rough."  He  had  a  big  heart,  a  hilarious,  jovial  disposition, 
and  loved  company  and  a  good  social  time. 

He  was  a  tall,  broad-shouldered,  powerfully-built  man. 
with  a  large,  square  head.  He  was  a  natural  musician,  and 
loved  the  violin,  on  which  he  could  play  by  the  hour,  day  or 
night,  and  never  tire.  I  have  heard  him  say,  'T  believe  I 
could  play  in  my  sleep  if  I  tried."  I  have  seen  him  play  and 
laugh  and  talk  at  the  same  time,  never  missing  a  note  or 
losing  time  or  expression. 


2GG  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

Dancing"  was  the  popular  amusement  in  those  earl)-  times, 
and  to  dance  well  was  an  admired  accomplishment.  For 
this  good  music  was  essential,  and  if  Mr.  Munson  could  be 
secured  for  any  party  its  success  was  assured. 

I  have  seen  him,  when  the  dancing  set  became  entangled, 
raise  himself  to  his  full,  commanding  height,  dropping  his 
violin  by  his  side,  with  his  hand  holding  his  bow  uplifted, 
with  a  broad  smile  on  his  face,  and  vigorous  stamp  of  his 
foot,  call  out  in  a  stentorian  voice :  "Hold  on,  now,  and  get 
straightened  out!"  Then,  with  an  energetic  and  artistic 
stroke  of  his  bow,  accompanied  by  another  stamp  of  his 
foot,  he  would  start  them  on  again.  If  they  failed  a  second 
time,  he  would  exclaim : 

"Here,  now,  just  change  off !  Some  of  you  old  dancers 
come  over  here  and  help  these  new  ones  out !"  In  the  end 
he  was  sure  to  bring  order  out  of  confusion,  and  in  such  a 
joyous,  hearty  way  that  everyone  laughed  at  his  own  mis- 
takes and  no  one  felt  hurt. 

He  was  as  much  a  captain  in  the  ball-room  as  on  board 
his  steamboat.  He  was  a  most  excellent  mechanic  and  a 
fine  machinist,  and  he  could  make  anything,  from  a  steam- 
boat to  a  violin.  Like  the  traditional  "busy  bee,"  he  was 
never  idle. 

I  have  in  my  possession  a  piece  of  his  handiwork  which  I 
greatly  prize.  It  is  a  large  window  curtain  pole,  made 
from  a  piece  of  black  walnut  picked  up  from  the  drift  near 
Point  Adams.  On  this  are  eight  large  brass  rings,  fash- 
ioned by  him  from  brass  obtained  from  the  old  British  bark 
Cairnsmore,  bound  for  Portland,  Oregon,  from  London  with 
7500  barrels  of  cement  on  board.  The  Cairnsmore  was  cast 
ashore  on  Clatsop  Beach  September  28th,  1883,  her  com- 
mander. Captain  Gibbs,  having  lost  his  reckoning  during  a 
spell  of  very  foggy  and  smoky  weather.  The  ship  came 
ashore  at  11  p.  m.  at  high  tide,  in  a  dead  calm,  on  a  heavy 


SoMK  oi'   lli.K  l.ii'K  Experiences.  267 

swell,  wliich  lan(lc(l  licr  lii,i;li  and  dry  dii  the  beach,  where 
she  may  still  be  seen,  a  dismantled  wreck  of  a  once  stately 
shi]). 

Mr.  Munson  mamifacturcd  a  number  of  violins,  some  of 
which  were  valuable.  One  of  these  he  made  from  a  piece  of 
hardwood  which  he  found  several  feet  below  the  surface 
while  digging'  a  drain  in  a  swamp  near  the  lig'hthouse.  No 
hardwood  grows  anywhere  near  that  vicinil)-.  and  this  frap^- 
ment  must  have  drifted  ashore  long  years  before  and  been 
covered  with  the  debris,  it  may  be,  of  a  century.  Thus  with 
his  skillful  hands  and  fertile  brain  he  was  able  to  bring  sweet 
music  from  the  very  bowels  of  the  earth  with  which  to 
charm  the  senses  and  make  glad  the  heart.  He  did  his  best, 
and  did  it  well.     Who  can  do  more? 

D.   K.   WARREN. 

My  first  personal  transaction  with  Mr.  Warren,  as  I  now 
recollect  it,  was  in  June,  1886.  I  called  on  Mrs.  Warren  to 
obtain  a  lease  of  her  house,  her  former  home,  which  was 
surrounded  by  beautiful  shrubs  and  flowers,  and  was  then 
one  of  the  handsomest  residences  in  Astoria.  She  was  un- 
certain what  price  to  ask,  saying :  "I  think  a  great  deal  of 
my  old  home.    What  do  you  think  it  ought  to  be  worth  ?" 

"I  will  give  you  $30  per  month  upon  a  lease  for  two 
years,"  I  replied. 

"Well,  we  will  see  Mr.  Warren,"  she  said,  and  we  went. 

"Do  you  think  I  ought  to  let  the  doctor  have  my  house 
for  $30  a  month  for  two  years?"  she  asked  him. 

He  smiled,  and  said  in  gentle,  reassuring  tones :  "Well,  if 
I  were  you  I  should  think  I  was  very  fortunate  to  get  $30 
a  month  for  two  years  with  Dr.  Adair  for  a  tenant." 

When  I  see  a  man  show^  such  gentle  consideration  toward 
his  wife  he  is  sure  to  find  the  wav  to  my  heart  and  win  my 
admiration  and  confidence  ever  after.  I  lived  neighbor  to 
Mr.  and  j\Irs.   Warren  for  thirteen  vears.  and  I  think  he 


268  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

was  never  once  in  my  house,  yet  I  knew  him  well,  as  did 
all  his  neighbors,  through  his  strictly  upright  and  c^uiet  yet 
forceful  daily  life.  He  was  a  man  of  few  words,  but  he 
thought  deeply  and  well  (which  reminds  me  of  what  a  lady 
once  said  of  my  Alattie  Bell)  :  "When  Mattie  does  open  her 
mouth,  you  may  be  sure  something  good  will  come  out,  for 
she  never  gives  utterance  to  a  silly  thought." 

Mr.  Warren  was  a  lover  of  the  artistic  and  beautiful,  as 
his  lovely  home  and  model  farm  attest.  I  might  liken  him 
to  a  perfect  housekeeper,  in  that  he  "had  a  place  for  every- 
thing, and  everything  in  its  place,"  showing  especially  in  his 
case  that  fine  object  lessons  are  of  vastly  more  worth  than 
words. 

Mr.  Warren  was  quiet,  unassuming  and  industrious,  with 
an  exceptionally  clear  head  and  reflective  mind,  through 
which  he  acquired  a  fortune,  every  dollar  of  which  was  hon- 
estly accumulated.  He  lived  a  laborious,  honorable  life  from 
day  to  day,  battling  with  and  overcoming  the  hardships  of 
early  Oregon  life  for  the  good  of  both  his  family  and  the 
community  in  which  he  dwelt. 

He  once  said  to  me:  "I  believe  that  every  man  should 
settle  property  on  his  wife  early  in  life,  and  allow  her  to 
manage  it  herself,  that  she  may  become  accustomed  to  bus- 
iness, for  women  are  often  superior  to  men,  and  I  think 
they  ought  to  be  encouraged." 

I  shall  take  the  liberty  here  of  referring  to  a  conversation 
I  had  with  Mrs.  Warren  a  few  years  ago.  We  met  on  the 
train.  She  was  in  somewhat  low  spirits,  saying  that  her  son 
George  was  soon  to  finish  at  the  Portland  Academy  and 
that  it  was  her  special  ambition  that  both  her  sons  should 
have  a  university  course,  but  that  George  was  not  willing 
to  take  it.     I  said : 

"Mrs.  Warren,  when  your  sons  have  finished  the  academy 
course  they  will  have  a  better  book-education  than  their 
father  had,  and  book-learning,  after  all,  is  but  a  small  part 


Sdmic  ()!■•   IIi;k   Li  lis   I'Lxn'.KiriNCiiS.  209 

of  the  education  essential  to  success  in  life,  and  if  your  sons 
prove  themselves  the  worthy  equal  of  their  father  you  may 
well  take  pride  in  heinp^  their  mother." 

Mr.  Warren  showed  his  superior  forethought,  generosity 
and  i^rat it udt'  by  doini;'  what  every  right-minded  man  should 
do — providing;"  bountifully  for  his  faithful  and  worthy  wife, 
who  was  the  joy  and  comfort  of  his  life. 

He  has  gone  from  our  mortal  sight.  "Being  dead,  he  yet 
speaketh."  His  protecting  kindness  yet  guards  the  hearth- 
stone of  his  loved  ones,  "at  twilight's  hour  and  dewy  morn," 
and  still  sheds  a  beneficent  influence  over  the  whole  wide 
circle  of  his  former  activities. 

Mrs.  Warren  can  be  found  in  her  beautiful  home,  sur- 
rounded liv  her  worthy  and  devoted  children,  dispensing 
help  and  comfort  to  the  afflicted  with  wise  and  liberal  hand, 
the  "Lady  Bountiful"  of  the  community  at  large. 

"God  give  us  men !   A  time  like  this  demands 
Strong  minds,  great  hearts,  true  faith  and  ready  hands ; 
Men  whom  the  lust  of  office  does  not  kill ; 
Men  whom  the  spoils  of  office  cannot  buy ; 
Men  who  possess  opinions,  and  a  w^ill ; 
Men  who  have  hoiior  ;  men  w'ho  will  not  lie  ; 
Men  who  can  stand  before  a  demagogue 
And  damn  his  treacherous  flatteries  without  winking; 
Tall  men,  sun-crowned,  who  live  above  the  fog 
In  public  duty,  and  in  private  thinking; 
For  while  the  rabble,  with  their  thumb-w^orn  creeds. 
Their  large  professions  and  their  little  deeds. 
Mingle  in  selfish  strife,  lo !  Freedom  weeps, 
Wrong  rules  the  land,  and  waiting  Justice  sleeps !" 


270  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

STEPHEN    FOWLER    CHADWICK. 

(By  L.  F.  Grover.) 

There  is  no  country  in  the  world,  and  especially  no  state 
in  the  Union,  whose  approach  to  civilization,  and  whose 
original  occupation  by  cultured  people  came  through  more 
romantic  mystery  or  through  greater  hardships  and  dangers 
than  accompanied  the  first  settlement  of  Oregon  by  the 
American  pioneers. 

This  settlement  was  accomplished  by  exceptional  people, 
under  exceptional  circumstances.  No  one  undertook  the  long 
journey  to  this  far-off  land  who  had  not  in  mind  a  vision  of 
the  broad  prairies,  of  garden  richness,  the  grassy  hills,  the 
snow-clad  mountain  peaks  and  the  deep  and  silent  forests  of 
stately  trees,  "where  rolls  the  Oregon,"  and,  withal,  the 
Eden-like  climate.  The  charm  of  taking  part  in  a  new  and 
fruitful  life,  where  the  Government  gave,  everyone  a  home- 
stead of  broad  acres,  and  where  an  opportunity  offered  of 
taking  part  in  organizing  new  society,  and  building  a  new- 
state,  with  its  thousand  chances  of  success  in  public  as  well 
as  in  private  life,  was  at  the  foundation  of  the  impulse  that 
brought  the  early  migration  of  thousands  to  Oregon. 

Added  to  the  sturdy  pioneers  from  the  valley  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, with  their  numerous  families,  came  also  many 
highly  educated,  talented  and  brilliant  young  men  from  the 
Atlantic  states,  who  joined  the  moving  panorama  westward 
to  the  "Ultima  Thule"  of  American  colonization  and  Amer- 
ican destiny. 

Among  those  who  were  drawn  by  these  attractions  from 
his  home  in  X^ew  England  was  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 


SOMK    OF    IIkU    I. IKK    EXPERIENCES.  271 

The  Cli.'ulwicks  came  from  iMigland  with  Governor  VVin- 
throp's  colony  in  1(J;!()  to  Massachusetts  Bay.  Tlicy  settled 
at  Charlestown  and  Maiden. 

A  branch  of  this  family  removed  thence  to  Connecticut, 
on  the  earliest  occui)ancy  of  that  re;.,don  by  the  Engli.sh. 
The  descendants  of  this  name  have  furnished  many  notable 
instances  of  distinction  in  the  learned  professions  and  the 
army  and  navy.  They  have  been  a  stalwart  race,  and  noted 
for  business  capacity  and  honorable  life. 

Stephen  Fowler  Chadwick  was  born  in  Middletown,  Con- 
necticut, December  25th,  1825,  so  that,  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  he  was  approaching  the  Biblical  span  of  life  of  three- 
score and  ten  years.  After  receiving  a  preliminary  education 
in  his  native  state,  of  that  thorough  kind  usually  given  in 
New  England,  he  entered  upon  the  study  of  the  law  in  the 
city  of  New  York,  where,  after  due  course  of  studies,  in 
which  he  exhibited  notable  proficiency,  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  state. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1851  he  started  for  Oregon  by  the 
isthmus  route  and  on  his  arrival  settled  at  Scottsburg,  in 
Southern  Oregon,  where  he  commenced  the  practice  of  his 
profession.  At  that  time  there  was  but  few  white  settlers  in 
the  territory.  Scottsburg,  was  at  the  head  of  tide-water  nav- 
igation on  the  Umpqua  river,  and  was  the  nearest  available 
port  of  supply  to  the  mines  of  Southern  Oregon  and  North- 
ern California,  then  just  discovered,  so  that  shortly  a  brisk 
trade  sprung  up,  calling  for  shippers,  merchants,  pack  trains, 
mechanics  and  all  the  concomitants  of  a  smart  mining  busi- 
ness. 

In  all  this  new  life  young  Chadwick  took  a  full  part.  He 
became  the  first  postmaster  of  Scottsburg,  and  a  leading 
citizen.  But  not  long  afterward  Roseburg,  the  county  seat 
of  Douglas  county,  becoming  a  more  important  place,  he 
removed  to  that  town,  where  he  was  elected  the  first  county 
judge  of  that  county. 


273  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

Showing'  evident  aptitude  for  public  work,  official  honors 
and  trusts  began  to  cluster  about  the  name  of  the  rising 
young  attorney.  He  was  appointed  prosecuting  attorney  for 
the  Territory  and  deputy  United  States  district  attorney  for 
the  Southern  District  of  Oregon. 

In  1857  he  was  elected  a  delegate  from  Douglas  county 
to  the  convention  called  to  frame  a  constitution  for  the  new 
State  of  Oregon.  In  that  body  he  was  a  member  of  several 
important  committees,  and  in  particular  he  served  on  the 
committee  on  the  schedule,  which  had  the  important  and 
delicate  duty  of  engrafting  the  territorial  upon  the  state  gov- 
ernment, and  of  settling  the  slavery  question,  which  was 
thrown  into  the  convention  as  a  fire-brand  from  burning 
Kansas,  at  that  time  in  the  throes  of  discord  and  bloodshed 
on  account  of  the  same  subject.  This  committee  was  se- 
lected from  the  most  conservative  members,  noted  for  abil- 
ity and  sound  judgment,  and  in  exercising  this  duty  Judge 
Chadwick  took  his  full  part  in  the  work  before  him  with 
credit  and  honor. 

In  1864  and  1868  he  was  elected  on  the  Democratic  ticket 
as  presidential  elector,  and  at  the  latter  date  he  was  desig- 
nated by  the  Oregon  electors  as  their  messenger  to  take  the 
vote  of  Oregon  to  the  electoral  college  at  Washington.  He 
there  delivered  the  vote  of. this  State  for  Horatio  Seymour 
for  President. 

In  1870,  on  the  ticket  headed  by  L.  F.  Grover  for  Gov- 
ernor, he  was  elected  Secretary  of  State  for  the  term  of  four 
years,  and  in  187-4  the  same  ticket  was  re-elected. 

On  the  resignation  of  Governor  Grover  in  February, 
1877,  to  take  his  seat  in  the  Senate  of  the  United  States,  to 
which  he  had  been  elected  by  the  last  preceding  Legislature, 
Secretary  Chadwick  became  Governor  of  Oregon  by  virtue 
of  the  provisions  of  the  State  constitution.  In  all  his  du- 
ties as  Secretary  of  State  his  work  was  marked  by  clear- 
ness, soundness  and  honesty. 


SoMic  OK  IIi;k  r.iFE  ExpKRrENCES.  537;? 

His  administration  as  chief  executive  was  characterized 
by  promptness  and  strength  in  the  exercise  of  public  duty 
and  a  care  for  the  pubHc  good,  giving  ample  proofs  of  a 
high  class  of  executive  ability.  While  he  was  Governor,  in 
1878,  the  Indians  of  Eastern  Oregon  made  their  last  strug- 
gle against  civilization,  rising  in  arms  against  the  white  set- 
tlers in  a  threatening  and  murderous  manner.  The  Gov- 
ernor went  in  person  to  the  front,  and  succeeded  in  securing 
the  co-operation  of  the  United  States  military  forces  and  of 
the  friendly  chiefs  in  that  quarter,  and  procured  the  surren- 
der of  nine  of  the  ringleaders  of  the  outbreak,  who  were  in- 
dicted in  the  state  courts  for  murder  and  were  convicted  and 
hanged. 

At  the  close  of  his  executive  term  Governor  Chadwick 
delivered  a  message  to  the  Legislature,  which  was  a  public 
document  replete  with  valuable  suggestions  and  wise  coun- 
sel. 

No  one  of  positive  qualities  in  public  place  is  ever  free 
from  the  shafts  of  criticism  and  detraction.  Governor  Chad- 
wick  received  his  share  of  such  attentions.  But  correct  his- 
tory and  public  opinion  have  cleared  the  field  of  his  public 
life  from  all  aspersions,  and  his  public  record  stands  out 
without  a  blemish. 

At  the  close  of  his  administration  as  chief  executive  of 
the  State  he  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  gave 
attention  to  his  many  business  interests. 

For  twelve  years  Governor  Chadwick  was  a  member  of 
the  original  board  of  directors  during  all  the  construction 
period  of  what  is  now  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad,  and 
gave  material  aid  in  the  completion  of  this  first  of  Oregon's 
railway  enterprises. 

It  was  in  the  mystic  rites  of  the  IMasonic  fraternity  that 
the  high  personal  and  social  qualities  of  the  subject  of  our 
sketch  shone  out  in  their  clearest  tone.  He  was  a  Scottish 
Rite  Mason,  of  the  tliirty-third  degree;  was  Grand  Master 


27-i  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  State,  and  for  over  a  quarter  of 
a  century  he  acted  as  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Foreign 
Correspondence  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Oregon.  He  had 
filled  every  position  in  the  offices  of  the  order,  from  the  low- 
est to  the  highest. 

As  a  lawyer  he  was  able  and  cogent,  in  his  discussions 
before  the  courts,  clear  in  the  presentation  of  his  subjects, 
and  most  careful  and  honorable  in  the  protection  of  the  in- 
terests of  his  clients,  so  that  success  at  the  bar  was  easy  and 
natural  to  him.  In  his  later  years  he  retired  from  pro- 
fessional work.  As  a  public  speaker  he  was  attractive  and 
interesting  and  often  eloquent.  Among  his  occasional  ad- 
dresses was  the  one  at  the  laying  of  the  cornerstone  of  the 
State  Capitol  at  Salem  in  1873.  He  also  delivered  the  prin- 
cipal address  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Oregon  Pioneers 
in  1874. 

In  1855  Governor  Chadwick  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Jane  A.  Smith,  daughter  of  Judge  Richard  Smith,  of 
Douglas  county,  formerly  of  Virginia.  The  issue  of  this 
marriage  was  two  sons  and  two  daughters — Stephen  J.,  a 
prominent  lawyer  of  Eastern  Washington,  late  mayor  of 
Colfax;  Ella  P.,  wife  of  William  T.  Gray,  a  prominent 
citizen  of  Salem,  Oregon ;  and  Mary  and  P.  F.,  yet  unmar- 
ried. 

In  his  home  relations  his  life  was  most  genial  and  happy, 
and  he  was  much  given  to  social  entertainment.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Episcopalian  church,  to  which  he  imparted 
many  beneficial  influences. 

The  death  of  Governor  Chadwick  took  place  on  the  14th 
day  of  January,  1895,  and  came  suddenly  and  in  a  startling 
manner. 

He  was  entertaining  an  invited  guest  at  dinner  and  in  the 
midst  of  pleasant  conversation  at  the  table  he  was  suddenly 
attacked  by  a  stroke  of  apoplexy  and  died  almost  instantly. 
While  medical  aid  was  at  hand,  Dr.  Owens-Adair  being  the 


Some  ok  IIi:k  LifI':  Ivxi-kkmcnces.  27/5 

guest  at  llu'  dinner,  nn  linniau  ])Owcr  Cf)iil(l  rcc.'iU  his  life 
from  tlic  hand  of  (he  fell  Kfaper. 

The  news  of  his  deatli  soon  spread  through  the  halls  of 
the  Stale  Capitol,  where  the  Legislature  and  Supreme  CV)urt 
were  in  session,  and  where  his  stalwart  form  was  hut  the 
day  before  a  familiar  figure.  All  public  business  was  inter- 
rupted and  the  public  bodies  adjourned  out  of  respect  to  the 
deceased  statesman. 

The  funeral  was  conducted  in  the  highest  obsequies  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity,  every  lodge  of  the  state  being  rep- 
resented in  full  regalia.  The  members  of  the  Supreme  Court 
and  of  the  [legislature  and  the  state  officers,  with  the  mayor 
and  city  council  of  Salem  and  a  large  concourse  of  citizens 
joined  to  pay  their  last  respects  to  the  honored  dead.  He 
was  buried  in  the  Rural  cemetery,  amid  the  oak-covered 
hills  south  of  the  city,  where  all  that  is  mortal  of  him  rests  in 

"The  low  couch  of  everlasting  sleep." 

Of  Stephen  Fowler  Chadwick  it  may  be  truthfully  said : 

"His  life  was  gentle,  and  the  elements 

So  mixed  in  him,  that  Nature  might  stand  up 
And  say  to  all  the  world :  "This  was  a  man !" 

PRESS    REPORT S.    F.    CHADWICK    DEAD. 

Salem,  Oregon.  January  loth,  1895. — Ex-Governor 
Stephen  F.  Chadwick  died  suddenly  tonight,  having  been 
stricken  wdth  apoplexy  at  his  home  in  this  city  just  as  he 
had  nearly  finished  dinner,  and  was  entertaining  an  old-time 
friend,  Mrs.  Dr.  Owens-Adair,  of  Astoria.  Dinner  had  pro- 
gressed to  the  interim  preceding  dessert.  His  daughter 
Mar}'  had  been  to  the  kitchen  a  moment,  and  upon  entering 
the  dining-room  uttered  a  cry  of  dismay,  pointing  to  her 
father,  whom  she  had  left  in  his  happiest  mood.  Mrs.  Chad- 
wick and  Dr.  Adair,  turning  toward  him,  beheld  the  aged 


276  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

statesman  lying'  back  in  his  chair,  purple  in  the  face,  and 
gasping-  for  breath.  Dr.  Adair  exercised  her  professional 
skill  quickly  and  applied  restoratives,  but  to  no  purpose. 
The  aid  of  Drs.  Byrd,  Smith  and  Morse,  who  were  hastily 
summoned,  was  also  unavailing.  The  ex-Governor  was 
dead. 

Governor  Chadwick  was  on  the  streets  of  the  city  and 
around  the  State  Capitol  today,  showing  no  signs  of  the 
approach  of  the  awful  visitor.  He  passed  away  without  ap- 
parent pain  or  struggle,  and  a  number  of  friends  who  flocked 
to  his  residence,  with  the  dismal  hope  that  the  report  was 
not  true,  found  the  benevolent  features  in  their  usual  pla- 
cidity. 

Salem,  Oregon,  June  29th,  1895. 
My  Dear  Dr.  Adair : 

I  have  thought  of  writing  you,  oh,  so  many  times,  for 
mother  and  I  think  of  you  every  day,  and  upon  our  return 
from  Southern  Oregon  Ella  told  us  someone  was  at  her 
house  inquiring  for  mother,  and  from  the  description  of  the 
maid  we  thought  it  must  be  you,  knowing  you  had  been  in 
Southern  Oregon.  We  regretted  very  much  we  did  not  see 
you,  as  a  good  long  talk  would  have  done  mother  lots  of 
good.  We  were  gone  about  ten  days.  The  trip  did  not 
benefit  mother  as  much  as  I  thought  it  would.  She  isn't 
very  strong,  and  feels  our  loss  more  every  day.  I  assure 
you,  life  is  very  blue  and  lonely,  and  it  seems  pretty  hard  to 
keep  up  at  times,  but  we  must. 

We  were  out  to  the  cemetery  this  evening,  and  took  some 
flowers.    There  is  so  little  comfort  in  going. 

Steve  and  family  are  on  the  Sound,  and  will  probably  re- 
main there  most  of  the  summer.  Ella  is  pretty  well  again, 
but  was  miserable  for  months  after  pa  died.  We  were  so 
uneasy  about  her.  Pitzer,  too,  had  a  long  sick  spell.  We 
hear  from  him  everv  week.     He  is  still  in  Colfax.     I  en- 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  277 

close  you  an  article  (jovctikm-  (jrovcr  wrote,  which  we  think 
a  great  deal  of.  We  would  he  j^lcased  to  hear  from  you  at 
any  time. 

Mother  joins  me  in  kindest  regards  to  the  Colonel  and 
yourself.  Mary  Chadwick. 

Salem,  Oregon,  July  2d,  18S0. 
Mrs.  B.  A.  Owens  : 

Dear  Madame — Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chadwick  take  pleasure  in 
acknowledging  the  receipt  of  your  last  letter,  containing  the 
important  announcement  of  your  success,  and  we  assure  you 
it  is  a  pride  to  us. 

We  thank  you  for  this  mark  of  esteem,  and  trust  you  will 
advise  us  of  your  progress.  Our  good  wishes  shall  attend 
you  always. 

Your  many  friends  will  rejoice  to  hear  of  your  good  for- 
tune. You  certainly  deserve  great  praise  and  rich  reward 
for  your  individual  efforts  and  final  success.  That  you  will 
have  them  there  is  no  question.  W^e  shall  be  pleased  to  see 
you,  and  welcome  you  to  your  field  of  labor.  That  you 
should  have  maintained  yourself  so  well  abroad  is  another 
matter  of  pride  to  your  friends.  With  great  respect  for 
you,  we  remain 

Very  truly  your  friends, 

S.  F.  Chadwick. 

For  self  and  wife,  Mrs.  Chadwick  having  read  this  letter 
with  approbation. 

LETTER  OF  HON.  S.  F.   CHADWICK  TO  DR.   OWENS. 

Dr.  B.  A.  Owens: 

My  Dear  Madame — You  are  such  a  stranger,  and  so  far 
away,  that  I  had  almost  looked  upon  you  as  lost;  lost,  in- 
deed. 

But,  if  I  had  thought  a  moment,  I  should  have  known 
that  you  are  among  those  who  cannot  be  lost  on  this  earth. 


278  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

While  not  hearing  of  you,  or  rather  from  yon,  for  some 
time,  I  have  seen  excellent  notices  of  you,  which  have  made 
me  very  proud  of  your  good  name  and  character.  I  talk 
about  you  to  your  friends.  Only  a  few  days  ago  Dr.  Glenn 
was  speaking  of  you.  In  fact,  it  was  on  the  day  you  were 
to  sail  for  Europe.  The  impulse  to  do  you  justice  on  all 
occasions  is  very  strong  in  me,  hence  I  often  think  of  you 
and  your  career  as  a  heroine,  for  such  you  are.  Now  I  will 
say  your  letter  of  the  Tth  of  April  is  before  me.  So  far  as 
the  duties  on  instruments  and  apparel  are  concerned,  I  fear 
that  I  am  not  able  to  advise  you  correctly,  but  hope  that  the 
kind  Providence  that  has  prospered  all  your  ways  will  pro- 
tect you  in  all  your  undertakings,  especially  in  this,  and  re- 
turn you  to  your  friends  and  professional  usefulness  after 
you  have  enjoyed  the  pleasures  of  the  anticipated  visit  to 
your  friends  in  Europe.  I  believe  your  visit  to  Europe  will 
help  you.  After  all,  I  believe  you  are  the  first  woman  in 
the  United  States  who  studied  medicine  regularly.  In  this 
I  may  be  mistaken,  but  I  think  not.  When  you  boi-rowed 
books  of  Dr.  Hamilton  so  many  years  ago  to  read  up  in  your 
profession,  I  wondered  at  the  step  you  had  taken.  So  did 
others.  While  I  was  hopeful  of  you,  and  encouraged  you, 
others  were  disposed  to  question  the  propriety  of  such  a 
step. 

Time  rolled  on,  and  you  came  out  of  the  trial  with  honor.. 
Who  could  have  done  more,  or  as  much?  No  lady  stood 
higher,  and  none  more  deserved  to.  All  your  life  you  have 
been  marked  for  decision  of  character,  excellence  of  pur- 
pose, and  great  ability  in  all  you  have  undertaken,  and  to- 
day you  have  the  respect,  confidence  and  praise  of  all  your 
acquaintances,  who  have  watched  and  admired  you.  This  is 
no  flattery.  You  need  none,  for  you  are  as  far  ahead  of  it  as 
the  day  is  from  the  night.  Put  all  this  together  with  the 
fact  that  you  were  the  first  lady  on  the  Pacific  Coast,  if  not 
in  the  United  States,  who  ever  took  a  medical  work  into 


SuiMK  (Ji-   lliCK  J.iFi':  Jixi'i-,iMK.vf;KS.  379 

her  hands  to  master  the  medical  profession,  and  you  will  not 
wonder  at  the  honor  I  bestow  upon  you. 

From  your  standpoint  now,  look  hack  and  sec  iiovv  many 
ladies  have  since  gone  into  the  profession  of  medicine.  You 
know  many,  hut  when  you  hejuan  }i)U  did  not  know  one.  To 
maintain  that  honor,  and  make  \onr  life  a  further  mark  for 
the  respect  and  conlidcncc  of  your  friends  will  he  your  con- 
stant care. 

You  may  not  like  to  he  called  the  "mother  of  all  the  lady 
doctors,"  but  in  one  sense  it  is  so,  and  they  should  be  consid- 
erate enough  to  bestow  upon  their  "alma  mater"  that  love 
and  esteem  due  you  from  those  who  have  but  followed  the 
example  you  were  firm  and  resolute  enough  to  set  them. 
You  broke  down  the  barriers  of  prejudice,  defied  the  scan- 
dal that  followed  the  profession  when  woman  aims  to  as- 
sume its  functions,  and  said  to  the  world :  "This  delicate 
and  sympathetic  office  of  a  physician  belongs  more  to  my 
sex  than  to  the  other,  and  I  will  enter  it,  and  make  it  an 
honor  to  woman."  You  have  done  all  these  things,  and 
more,  for  the  cause  you  espouse. 

I  hope  your  visit  will  be  pleasant.  I  know  it  will  be.  It  is 
the  desire  of  my  life  to  take  such  a  trip.  No  one  will  ap- 
preciate it  more  than  you  will.  Local  news  is  scarce.  My 
family  are  well.  Mrs.  C.  did  not  get  that  paper  you  sent. 
I  want  to  read  the  article.     Perhaps  it  will  come  yet. 

We  look  for  a  large  immigration  this  year.  You  will  re- 
turn in  good  fruit  time,  and  we  are  to  have  an  abundance  of 
it.    You  are  fond  of  such  seasons. 

You  did  not  mention  whether  George  is  with  you.  i\Iay 
God  bless  you  and  keep  you  from  harm.  We  send  our  love 
to  you. 

I  remain  your  friend, 

S.  F.  Chadwick. 


280  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

In  a  letter  to  Colonel  Adair,  Governor  Chadwick  said : 
"I  trust  the  doctor  is  well.  I  am  indebted  to  her  skill  and 
kindness.  These  things  I  shall  treasure,  for  they  have  given 
me  better  health  than  I  had  a  year  ago,  far  better,  and  your 
joint  attentions  last  year,  are  very  pleasant  mem- 
ories. Would  that  I  could  return  them.  May  you  both  en- 
joy a  year  of  prosperity  in  everything,  to  be  followed  by 
prosperity  through  all  coming  years." 

Salem,  Oregon,  April  24th,  1890. 
Mrs.  Dr.  Owens-Adair : 

Dear  Madame — I  notice  you  are  having  natural  gas  at 
Warrenton.  I  don't  mean  real  estate  agents,  though  the 
country  is  full  of  that  kind  of  gas.  I  want  to  tell  you  some- 
thing you  may  know.  Mr.  AVilliam  Perry,  whom  you  knew 
when  he  lived  on  Clatsop  Plains,  in  the  '40s,  also  at  Rose- 
burg,  told  me  that  the  Indians  often  brought  to  his  place, 
and  no  doubt  to  your  father's  too,  in  small  cans,  "Barba-does 
tar"  (petroleum). 

They  got  it  from  a  mountain,  where  it  ran  out  of  the  side. 
While  the  Indians  could  not  tell  exactly  where  it  was,  they 
said  it  was  down  the  beach  toward  Tillamook.  Perry  al- 
ways said  he  could  find  it.  I  kept  at  him  to  do  so,  but  he 
never  found  time  to  go  and  see  to  it.  He  sent  Vail  about 
fifteen  years  ago.  He  went  over  to  Tillamook,  and  up  the 
mountains,  until  he  was  lost,  and  finally  returned  home 
without  finding  it.     The  Indians  reported  plenty  of  tar. 

I  have  thought  this :  If  some  petroleum  could  be  put  into 
a  can  and  shown  to  the  oldest  Indians  along  the  coast  to 
Tillamook,  they  may  remember  where  it  can  be  found,  for 
there  are  Indians  living  who  knew  all  about  it.  They  may 
be  found  on  the  reservation,  but  Clatsop  Indians  would 
know,  from  the  oldest  down  to  their  descendants.  It  was 
not  worth  m.uch  then. 

If  this  story  of  Perry's  is  true,  and  I  believe  it,  that  flow 


SOMK   OF    IIkK    LiI'K    JCxI'KHIKNCES.  2R1 

of  petroleum  can  be  found.  Now  you  will  ask :  "Why  don't 
you  borrow  an  oyster  can  and  come  down  and  find  it?" 
Well,  I  will  tell  you  why. 

Five  weeks  ago  today  I  was  at  Roslyn,  Washington,  anrl 
when  about  to  leave  I  slipped  on  an  icy  patch  and  fell  on  my 
ankle,  spraining  it  badly.  Why  I  did  not  break  a  bone  I 
cannot  tell.  I  have  not  walked  since.  I  went  to  Ellensburg 
and  George,  your  son,  attended  to  it  for  me,  and  I  am  doing 
very  well.  Can  walk,  with  the  aid  of  a  chair,  though  I  do  not 
do  much  of  it  yet.  I  think  in  two  weeks  I  shall  be  out  once 
more.  I  could  not  walk  with  the  chair  support  a  week  ago. 
When  I  get  well,  and  the  season  is  suited  to  it,  I  will  be  on 
hand,  with  sample  boxes,  or  bottles  of  petroleum,  in  search 
of  this  mountain,  or  hill,  that  contains  the  precious  stuff. 
It  is  there,  and  maybe  it  will  stay  there ;  who  knows  ? 

I  see  your  "Union"  party  is  quite  respectable.  The  names, 
so  far  as  I  know,  are  of  our  best  citizens.  Great  credit  is  due 
you  for  the  name.  I  think  they  wall  poll  a  large  vote.  They 
are  men  who  mean  business. 

Give  my  regards  to  the  Colonel.  Ask  him  if  he  wants  to 
be  a  partner  in  a  mountain  of  tar.    Yours  truly, 

S.  F.  Chadwick. 

I  forgot  to  say  we  are  all  as  w^ell  as  usual,  except  my  case, 
already  reported. 

Salem,  Oregon,  April  30th,  1890. 
Col.  John  Adair : 

My  Dear  Sir — Yours  of  yesterday  came  duly  to  hand.  I 
see  that  you  have  secured  your  railroad.  I  am  so  glad.  The 
Coos  Bay  and  Roseburg  will  be  built,  also.  What  will  be- 
come of  this  country?  Old  Major  Tucker,  whom,  perhaps, 
you  knew,  when  a  boy,  used  to  say  that  "Oregon  was  the 
extenuation  of  a  great  country,"  and  when  he  was  "full"  he 
was  rather  interesting.  But  he  never  dreamed  of  a  railroad 
then.    A  reader  of  Irving's  "Astoria"  could  not  find  the  place 


282  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

now.     I  presume  there  is  a  dispute  as  to  where  old  Fort 
George  stood.    I  was  on  the  spot  in  April,  1857. 

But  you  are  to  have  the  "boss"  residence  property,  as  well 
as  for  business,  with  a  railroad  whistling  through  it  all.  I 
have  great  faith  in  the  doctor's  long  head  and  good  luck. 
She  has  made  no  mistakes  in  her  judgment  in  going  to  As- 
toria. You  are  going  to  be  very  rich.  Now  I  feel  sure  of 
the  "Barbadoes  tar."  We  shall  find  it,  as  sure  as  we  live. 
It  will  follow  the  doctor's  good  luck. 

Silas  B.  Smith  I  do  not  now  remember.  His  mother  was 
not  the  wife  of  Miller  Smith,  of  Roseburg,  was  she?  If  so, 
I  was  acquainted  with  him.  Had  I  taken  Miller  Smith  in 
those  early  days,  we  could  have  found  the  tar.  Never 
thought  of  him.  I  tied  to  Mr.  Perry  all  the  time,  and  did 
nothing.  This  Smith  boy  was  cjuite  a  lad  then.  I  hope  you 
will  find  the  person  you  want.  It  will  be  on  Government 
land,  no  doubt.  If  found  on  school  land,  we  can  buy  it.  If 
otherwise,  we  will  have  to  get  it  the  best  way  wc  can — pre- 
empt or  homestead.  We  must  look  into  this  before  the 
thing  is  made  public.  I  have  looked  over  all  the  mineral 
works  I  have,  and  find  no  mention  of  petroleum.  You  are  the 
authority  on  that  point.  We  must  be  sure  that  we  have  the 
thing  certain,  if  it  is  found.  I  am  now  going  about  the 
house  with  crutch  and  cane.  My  inside  ankle,  on  right  side 
of  foot,  is  cjuite  sore,  but  improving.  This  is  near  the  last  of 
it.  Better,  otherwise.  I  w'ill  be  ready  for  that  excursion  to 
the  mine  in  about  a  month. 

With  kind  regards  to  the  doctor,  I  remain,  yours  truly, 

S.  F.  Chadwick. 


Some  of  Hek  Life  Experiences.  283 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

LETTERS   OF    HON.    JESSE    AIM'LEGATE. 

My  excuse  for  makiiii;-  ])ii1)lic  tliese  letters  from  my  dear 
and  honored  friend  is  that  they  show  the  depth  of  his  pure 
and  sensitive  nature,  and  I  beHeve  that  Oregon  is  entitled  to 
all  that  enhances  the  greatness  and  goodness  of  this,  one  of 
her  noblest  sons,  who  served  her  for  so  long,  so  faithfully 
and  well. 

He  nursed  me  as  a  babe,  and  carried  me  on  his  brawny 
shoulders  for  many  miles  over  those  rough,  almost  endless 
emigrant  trails.  He  and  my  father  were  devoted  friends,  and 
to  the  day  of  his  death  he  was  to  me  as  a  true  and  affection- 
ate father,  his  habit  being  always  to  address  me  as  "My 
child." 

Ashland,  Oregon,  April  23d,  1872. 

M]y  Dear  Friend — I  returned  here  yesterday  from  Sacra- 
mento and  San  Francisco,  and  will  commence  operations  in 
the  field  as  soon  as  Dan  joins  me  from  home  and  my  party  is 
equipped. 

If  you  still  wish  your  son  to  make  a  campaign  with  me, 
I  shall  be  pleased  to  please  you  in  that  matter,  hoping  to 
make  the  campaign  as  pleasant  as  possible  to  the  young  gen- 
tleman himself. 

I  find  that  I  am  not  the  only  old  man  who  has  fallen  des- 
perately in  love  with  you.  Colonel  Hooker  is  even  (if  that 
were  possible)  more  deeply  smitten  than  myself,  and  I  am 
satisfied,  from  the  strong  expressions  he  uses  in  your  praise, 
that  if  the  colonel  had  not  an  "encumbrance"  already,  A. 
would  have  to  look  to  his  laurels,  for  he  would  have  a  pci- 
severing  and  most  gallant  competitor  for  your  favor. 


284  Dr.  Owexs  -  Adair. 

Not  knowing  when  at  Yreka  that  I  would  meet  orders 
at  this  point,  I  promised  to  deliver  for  the  colonel  h\b  very 
high  regards,  which  he  clothed  in  most  knightly  phrase, 
saying  that  he  "failed  to  call  upon  you  when  last  at  Rose- 
burg,  not  because  his  heart  did  not  prompt  him  to  do  so,  but 
because,  covered  with  mud  and  dirt,  with  no  means  of  im- 
proving his  toilet,  his  vanity  stood  in  the  way  of  the  prompt- 
ings of  his  tenderer  feelings.  In  a  word,  the  colonel  has 
formed  a  very  high  opinion  of  you,  and  says  he  does  not 
think  that  in  his  whole  life  he  has  met  a  lady  who  combined 
so  many  personal  charms  with  so  bright  an  intellect.  Nor 
must  I  forget  to  thank  you  for  the  words  of  kindness  in 
which  you  expressed  yourself  to  him  concerning  me. 

If  your  son  is  not  ready,  or  he  by  any  accident  misses  Dan, 
I  will  in  a  week  or  ten  days  complete  a  part  of  my  work  that 
must  be  immediately  reported  at  Portland.  This  may  enable 
me  to  make  a  flying  visit  home,  when  I  can  take  your  young 
gentleman  in  my  own  charge  on  my  return,  and  if  I  come  no 
farther  north  than  Jacksonville,  to  which  point  I  must  come, 
I  will  telegraph  to  you  for  your  boy  to  meet  me  there. 

With  most  sincere  wishes  for  your  health  and  happiness, 
I  am,  as  ever,  your  sincere  friend, 

Jesse  Applegate. 

P.  S. — My  work  commences  at  the  south  boundary  of  the 
State,  on  the  western  shore  of  Little,  or  lower  Klamath 
lake,  and  extends  north.  A  much  pleasanter  country  than  1 
expected  to  be  in  when  I  last  saw  you.  Broken  rest  and 
hard  work  has  rather  prostrated  me.  Such  things  seem  to 
tax  my  physical  powers  more  than  formerly.  Perhaps  yoa 
are  soon  to  lose  a  friend  who  hopes  for  your  happiness  with 
the  unselfish  yearnings  of  a  father.  •  Let  him  have  your  kind 
remembrance.  J.  A. 


SoMK  OK  T1f,k  Lifk  Kxi'kriknces.  285 

Yoncalla,  Oregon,  June  22d,  1872. 

My  Dear  Ivricnd — When  I  arrived  at  home  from  the 
south  I  found  one  of  my  two  bundles  of  blankets  open  in 
the  stage.  I  gathered  up  such  things  as  I  could  find,  sup- 
posing that  George's  pillow  and  Dan's  carpet-bag  were  in 
the  other  bundle,  but  both  bag  and  pillow  are  missing.  I 
did  not  arrive  from  Portland  until  this  morning,  or  I  would 
have  instituted  inquiries  after  them  earlier,  with  better  hope 
of  recovering  them.  As  George  will  know  the  carpet-bag, 
tell  him  I  will  thank  him  very  much  if  he  will  inquire  at  the 
stage  stable  and  of  the  drivers  respecting  the  bag  and  pil- 
low.   I  will  write  to  Oakland  about  them  today. 

The  bag  (Dan's)  is  a  common  (and  as  well  as  I  can  remem- 
ber) red  and  white  carpet.  It  contains,  besides  some  clothes, 
his  watch.  I  wish  George  to  write  to  me  and  let  me  know 
what  he  is  studying,  for  if  I  cannot  always  have  him  with 
me  I  would  like  to  have  him  for  a  correspondent.  Perhaps 
it  was  love  for  the  mother  that  first  warmed  my  heart 
toward  the  son,  but  that  could  only  have  produced  a  pre- 
possession in  his  favor,  soon  to  pass  away,  had  there  been 
no  quality  in  the  boy  to  keep  alive  and  increase  the  growth 
of  my  kindly  feelings ;  but  I  like  the  boy  for  himself.  For, 
of  hasty  temper  and  quick  to  like  or  dislike,  he  also  readily 
forgives.  His  heart  is  too  full  of  love  and  tenderness  long 
to  afford  room  for  the  baser  passions  of  malice  and  revenge. 
For  though  of  the  thoughtless  age  of  youth,  and  sometimes 
suffering  from  both  pain  and  fatigue,  he  always  showed  for 
me  not  only  respect,  but  tenderness  and  thought  of  my 
comfort  before  his  own.  At  night,  when  we  were  under 
our  blankets,  and,  as  it  were,  alone  with  each  other,  he 
would  nestle  close  to  me  and  caress  my  hands  or  face  with 
the  gentle  touch  of  woman,  and  make  the  kindest  inquiries 
after  my  comfort.  Once,  I  remember,  when  our  bed  was 
made  upon  a  rough  rock,  I  complained  of  its  hardness.  He 
was   so  determined   I   should   sleep   on   his   pillow   that   he 


286  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

would  not  use  it  himself,  and  said  if  I  did  not  want  it,  it 
might  lie  on  the  ground  unused.  It  was  not  until  after  the 
perverse  child  was  asleep  that  I  could  arrange  his  bedding 
so  that  he  could  rest  comfortably.  If,  sometimes,  when  in 
the  moonlight,  as  I  looked  upon  the  pale  face  of  the  sleeping 
boy  and  anxiously  studied  his  future  (when  neither  his  mod- 
esty nor  his  manhood  would  be  offended  by  the  liberty),  I 
kissed  his  cheek  or  his  forehead,  I  am  not  ashamed  of  the 
weakness.  It  is  not  to  alarm  you,  but  if  possible  to  avert 
the  fate  that  seems  to  threaten  the  poor  boy,  that  I  disclose 
the  anxious  fears  I  have  respecting  him.  His  frame,  I  fear, 
is  far  too  weak  long  to  support  his  ever  active  intellect  and 
ever  active  spirit.  "The  over  keen  blade  soon  cuts  away  the 
scabbard." 

As  I  said  to  you  at  Roseburg,  you  have  done  your  part  in 
his  parentage  by  imparting  to  him  your  own  bright  intelli- 
gence and  warm  affections,  but  his  father  was  not  himself 
sound,  or  from  some  other  cause,  has  not  given  to  his  son  a 
strong,  enduring  body,  or  at  least  one  not  equal  to  the  strain 
put  upon  it  by  a  mind  as  active  as  that  of  George. 

George  is  also  full  of  courage,  which,  united  with  a  hasty 
temper,  is  always  a  tax  on  a  weak  constitution.  My  sons,  if 
not  markedly  intellectual,  are,  at  least,  strong,  robust,  en- 
during men,  of  much  firmness  and  persistence  and,  of  course, 
animal  courage — the  result  of  these  fine  bodily  qualities. 
They  owe  these  hissings  to  healthy  parents,  who  lived  in 
the  simplicity  of  nature,  unvexed  by  the  turmoils,  artificial 
cares,  hate  and  jealousies  of  so-called  civilized  life. 

About  hatred  and  jealousy  I  have  only  to  say :  They  are 
base  passions,  which  we  have  in  common  with  the  lower  ani- 
mals. Besides  the  evils  they  work  to  others,  they  are  a  con- 
tinual punishment  to  those  who  entertain  them.  They  cannot 
long  remain  the  tenants  of  a  pure  and  innocent  heart.  They 
will  soon  drive  out  innocence  and  corrupt  purity,  or  be  them- 
selves driven  out.  I  write  knowingly  upon  this  subject,  be- 
cause in  the  course  of  mv  life  I  have  been  afflicted  with  both. 


SoMK  OK  IIi;k  I.iI'K  Ivx  i-kkirnces.  287 

But  I  have  earnestly  struggled  against  tlicni,  and  no  struggle 
in  a  good  cause  is  entirely  barren  of  good  results.  Tolera- 
tion and  charity  for  llic  faults  and  failings  of  others,  I  am 
sure,  may  be  cultivated  until  they  will  create  in  our  souls 
desire  for  the  good  of  all,  and  a  sense  of  being  at  peace  with 
all  the  world.  Perhaps  no  degree  of  cultivation  will  save  us 
from  anger  when  provoked  by  deep  or  sudden  injury,  but 
we  need  not  sufTer  it  to  degenerate  into  hatred  and  revenge. 

Sincerely  your  friend, 

Jesse  Applegate. 

Linkvillc,  Oregon,  November  20th,  1873. 

My  Very  Dear  Friend — Your  letter  was  brought  to  me  at 
my  sheep  ranch,  more  than  fifty  miles  from  any  postoffice.  I 
read  it  sitting  upon  a  stone,  with  the  broad  expanse  of  soli- 
tude spread  around  me,  while  I  watched  and  herded  another 
man's  sheep  for  a  living !  When  you  also  consider  that  I 
am  between  sixty  and  seventy  years  of  age,  and  poor,  and 
have  won  no  distinction  of  any  kind,  it  seems  to  me  the 
oracle  you  consult  is  a  frail  one  indeed.  But  as  I  do  love 
you,  dear,  as  the  "bone  of  my  bone,  and  flesh  of  my  tiesh," 
my  great  partiality  for  you  may  lead  me  to  hope  more  from 
your  remarkable  intellect  than  you  will  realize.  If  you  had 
the  means  (and  if  I  had  them  you  should  have  them)  your 
plan  is  just  such  a  one  as  I  would  form  for  vou,  as  your  in- 
clinations lead  you  in  that  direction. 

You  are  right  in  deciding  that  your  mind  was  not  given 
you  to  be  frittered  away  in  frivolity.  I  was  right  in  decid- 
ing that  marriage  and  motherhood  were  not  intended  for  you 
by  the  Creator.  He  designed  you  for  a  higher  destiny,  and 
you  will  attain  it.  Let  your  motto  be  "Excelsior.''  Avoid 
love,  marriage  and  all  other  entanglements  and  relaxations 
until  you  have  attained  to  the  high  distinction  to  wdiich  you 
aspire.  Fame  and  fortune  will  then  await  you,  and  there 
will  still  be  time  to  indulge  in  the  tenderness  of  your  heart 
and  the  warmth  of  vour  affections. 


288  Dr.  Owens -Adair. 

"  It  is  not  probable  tbat  you  and  I  will  ever  meet  again.  I 
am  old  and  continually  receding-  into  a  deeper  and  darker 
obscurity,  perhaps  shortly  to  die  in  some  solitary  desert, 
where  even  my  bones  will  not  again  be  seen  by  any  human 
being,  while  your  course  will  still  be  onward  and  upward, 
with  a  fame  probably  as  wide  as  literature  and  as  enduring 
as  Time.  I  feel,  however,  that  the  mystic  cord  of  affection 
has  drawn  us  together;  that  the  love  and  sympathy  between 
us  has  been  pure  and  chaste  as  the  virgin  snows  upon  the 
lap  of  Diana,  and  that  it  will  endure  to  the  end,  whatever 
end  we  shall  reach. 

At  a  time  of  more  leisure  I  will  try  to  write  again. 
God' bless  and  prosper  you  in  all  your  undertakings. 

Jesse  Applegate. 

Clear  Lake,  Colorado,  January  5th,  1874. 
Dear  Friend — Your  short  note  of  "farewell"  was  received 
yesterday.  While  I  am  comforted  and  pleased  with  the 
earnest  expressions  of  the  love  and  sympathy  of  one  so  much 
above  the  common,  both  physically  and  mentally,  I  feel  it  to 
be  my  duty  to  disabuse  you  of  some  errors  respecting  myself. 
And  though  the  confession  will  probably  lower  me  in  your 
esteem,  which  of  all  things  I  would  like  to  retain,  yet,  as  an 
honest  man,  I  cannot  retain  your  love,  highly  as  I  prize  it,  if 
given  under  a  false  impression.  Intellectually,  I  fall  far 
below  the  standard  you  seem  to  have  set  up  of  my  measure. 
Not  from  a  lack  of  a  clear,  discriminating  mind,  but  from  a 
lack  of  that  indomitable  courage  and  perseverance  that  in- 
spires you  to  great  undertakings,  and  will  bear  you  forward 
to  great  results.  Too  easily  discouraged  and  turned  aside 
by  obstacles,  and  influenced  by  strong  passions  and  appetites 
my  advance  in  the  path  of  knowledge  has  not  been  that  of  a 
traveler  determined  to  reach  the  end  of  his  journey,  but  a 
loiterer,  who  follows  the  path  for  the  beauty  and  grandeur 
of  the  scene  and  the  rich  abundance  of  the  flowers  that 
strewed  the  way. 


Some  of  Hick  Liik  Ivxi'ijuenoes,  289 

My  mind  led  me  in  the  pursuit  of  science;  it  was  to  me  an 
easy  road  to  pursue.  Those  things  (h'fflcult  and  abstruse  to 
most  minds  presented  no  difficulties  to  mine.  My  remark- 
able progress  attracted  the  attention  of  the  learned.  Rich 
men  offered  their  patronage,  and  money  freely  tendered  was 
not  wanting  to  bring  me  forward  on  the  road  I  seemed  so 
easily  to  follow.  l^>ut  I  was  too  proud  to  be  dependent  on 
any  man's  bounty  and  too  poor  to  prosecute  my  studies 
without  first  procuring  the  means  of  support.  Since  then  I 
have  only  been  able,  at  periods  few  and  far  between,  to  re- 
view what  I  so  rapidly  acquired  in  youth.  It  is  too  painful 
to  recount,  even  to  you,  my  sympathizing  friend,  my  further 
history.  Suffice  it  to  say  that,  like  many  others,  the  promise 
of  my  youth  was  not  realized  in  manhood.  The  struggle  for 
competence  brought  me  in  contact  with  the  world.  I  yielded 
the  lofty  but  lonely  pursuit  of  science  to  its  seductions.  I 
have  committed  many  follies  and  some  vices.  All  the  ills 
that  beset  me  I  owe  to  myself.  All  the  pleasures  of  my  life 
I  owe  to  others.  The  love  and  respect  I  receive  from  those 
near  to  me  by  the  ties  of  blood  rise  up  before  me  as  a  con- 
tinual reproach.  It  was  a  great  folly,  almost  a  crime,  that 
has  brought  them  into  the  world,  and  it  is  owing  to  my  non- 
improvement  of  my  opportunities  that  they  are  left  to  strug- 
gle with  it  in  the  humble  vale  of  poverty  and  ignorance.  It 
is  but  a  poor  atonement  I  can  make  for  all  the  ills  I  have 
brought  upon  them  to  devote  the  few  remaining  days  I  have 
to  living  entirely  to  their  service.  And  it  would  be  a  pleas- 
ure I  do  not  deserve  longer  to  enjoy  your  love  and  sym- 
pathy under  the  false  impression  that  I  am  either  a  martyr 
or  a  hero.    God  bless  you.    Good-bye. 

Jesse  Applegate. 

Clear  Lake,  Colorado,  November  5th,  1876. 
My  Friend — When  3^ou  told  me  the  pecuniary  success  you 
had  gained  and  the  social  standing  you  had  reached  by  mak- 
ing yourself,  a  physician,   and   I   suggested  to  you   that   a 


290  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

ftirther  success  was  in  your  reach  by  making  yourself  emi- 
nent in  the  scientific  departments  of  your  profession,  you 
asked  me  the  question,  "Do  you  really  believe  me  capable  of 
reaching  so  high  an  eminence?" 

Upon  an  examination  of  this  question  it  presents  two  as- 
pects. Neither  of  them  are  very  flattering  to  me.  First,  it 
expressed  a  doubt  of  my  sincerity,  or,  second,  a  doubt  of  my 
jvidgment,  and  I  think  I  at  least  have  a  right  to  ask  upon 
which  ground  I  am  to  place  the  meaning  of  your  question. 
If  there  is  anything  in  our  past  intercourse  that  implies  a 
want  of  sincerity  on  my  part,  I  am  not  aware  of  it.  True, 
I  have  said  things  of  you  and  to  you  that  were  flattering,  and 
intended  to  be  so,  but  they  were  uttered  in  the  utmost  sin- 
cerity, and  intended  to  encourage  you  in  pursuits  calculated 
to  elevate,  strengthen  and  refine  you  intellectually. 

I  have  had  no  personal  end  to  gain  by  flattering  your  van- 
ity, or  by  misleading  or  deceiving  you  on  any  point.  And 
as  you  know  this  as  well  as  I  do,  I  must  conclude  that  you 
think  my  judgment,  which  you  have  flattered  me  by  placing 
a  high  value  on,  is  now  failing  me.  Is  this  so?  And  if  so, 
have  I  not  earned,  if  in  no  other  way,  by  always  treating 
you  with  candor,  candor  in  return? 

I  have  much  more  to  say  to  you,  but  it  seems  out  of  place 
until  this  question  is  settled.  It  seems  to  me  that  if  it  is 
possible  for  a  man  and  woman  to  hold  intercourse  as  pure, 
but  kindred  intelligences,  free  from  even  the  taint  of  pas- 
sion, it  is  so  for  you  and  me. 

You  are  in  the  glory  of  womanhood,  endowed  physically 
with  perfections  enough  to  excite  the  admiration  of  the  op- 
posite sex  and  the  envy  of  your  own.  You  have  an  intellect 
strengthened  by  a  powerful  will,  which  has  overcome  all  ob- 
stacles to  your  upward  course.  Hardest  task  of  all,  you 
have  crushed  out  love  and  tenderness  from  your  woman's 
heart. 

Are  you  going  to  stop  in  the  midst  of  your  career?    Are 


Some  of  Her  Lu-k  Exi'ekiences.  291 

all  these  sacrifices  to  be  made,  and  you  yet  fall  short  of  the 
goal  of  your  ambition  ? 

Most  solemnly  and  earnestly  do  I  protest  against  such  a 
termination. 

Better  to  have  remained  the  humble  dressmaker  and  en- 
joyed the  humble  but  free  and  independent  life  that  calling 
afforded  you  than  fail  in  a  higher  aim.    Let  me  know  how  it 

is  with  you.     Very  truly  yours, 

Jesse  Applegate. 

Mount  Yoncalla,  Oregon,  June  23d,  1878. 

Dear  Madam — Your  letter  of  June  9th  was  received  but 
a  few  days  ago,  as  I  get  my  mail  at  Drain,  being  most  con- 
venient. 

I  am  sorry  you  deem  it  necessary  to  go  East  to  study.  It 
will,  of  course,  put  an  end  to  your  present  prosperous  prac- 
tice, and  instead  of  "putting  money  in  thy  purse,"  it  will  draw 
upon  it  heavily.  Money  is  a  very  handy  thing  to  have.  I 
know  by  bitter  experience  that  the  want  of  it  is  not  only 
very  inconvenient,  but  puts  a  veto  on  many  great  undertak- 
ings and  grand  schemes. 

The  practical  (which  you  call  clinical)  branch  of  your 
profession  you  can  perfect  yourself  in  while  at  the  same 
time  helping  yourself  and  others,  while  two  hours  in  the  day 
devoted  to  the  study  of  a  specialty  of  your  own  choosing 
may  give  you  the  wealth  and  fame  your  friends  hope  you 
may  some  time  possess. 

But  as  you  promise  me  a  visit,  I  will  defer  the  discussion 
of  the  subject  until  that  time,  as  there  may  be  reasons  for 
your  Eastern  journey  other  than  study. 

I  shall  be  very  glad  to  see  you  and  have  you  spend  a  few 
days  with  us,  but  I  think  it  right  to  warn  you  that  we  are 
very  poor,  live  very  hard,  and  can  promise  you  none  of  the 
comforts  and  luxuries  }0U  enjoy  daily  in  the  home  you  have 
created  for  ourself.     Truly  your  friend, 

Jesse  Applegate. 


292  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

Mount  Yoncalla,  Oregon,  August  14th,  1878. 
Mrs.  B.  A.  Owens : 

Dear  Madam — Since  studing  over  the  matter  of  your  con- 
templated journey  in  the  pursuit  of  knowledge,  and  how  I 
could  best  assist  you  in  your  laudable  purpose,  I  have  come 
to  the  following  conclusions  : 

As  your  purpose  is  to  raise  yourself  not  only  to  a-  higher 
place  in  your  profession,  but  also  to  a  higher  sphere  in 
human  society,  a  word  or  two  of  advice  from  an  old  and  sin- 
cere friend  must  not  give  offense.  From  the  moment  you 
step  on  board  the  steamer  to  begin  your  tour,  put  on  the 
manners,  deportment,  dress  and  address  of  the  class  to  which 
you  intend  hereafter  to  belong,  and  never  thereafter  let  your- 
self down  from  the  highest  standard.  Even  as  a  subject  of 
conversation  avoid  politics  generally,  and  woman's  rights  es- 
pecially, as  you  w'ould  the  plague.  In  your  own  person  and 
pursuits  you  give  the  highest  proof  of  the  equality  of  the  hu- 
man intellect,  and  an  exemplar  as  to  the  branches  of  hu- 
man knowledge  to  which  that  of  the  female  should  be  direct- 
ed. In  the  broad  and  as  yet  unexplored  fields  of  science  there 
is  plenty  of  room  for  all  minds  to  act  without  jostling  each 
other,  and  to  labor  in  the  fields  of  knowledge  in  which  the 
dress  of  flesh  which  Nature  has  placed  upon  them  is  not  an 
incumbrance. 

Leave,  therefore,  the  kindred  subjects,  of  war  and  politics 
to  minds  cast  in  the  stronger  and  grosser  molds  of  man,  as 
inconsistent  with  the  delicacy  and  refinement  that  makes 
woman  most  attractive  to  her  opposite.  This  perhaps  is  as 
large  a  dose  of  nester  as  I  should  give  until  I  see  what  ef- 
fect it  has  upon  the  patient.  If  the  symptoms  are  favorable  I 
may  continue  the  treatment.     Sincerely  your  friend, 

Jesse  Applegate. 

Had  I  but  taken  the  advice  of  my  dear  old  friend  not  to 
talk  politics,  woman  suffrage  and  kindred  subjects,  I  might 
have  saved  myself  worlds  of  trouble  and  fountains  of  tears. 


SoMi-:  f)i'   \\\'A<  r.ri'K   Kxi'i'-.KrF.NCFCS.  293 

But,  with  my  iin])ctiK)ii.s  and  wilful  nature,  it  seemed  impos- 
sible for  me  not  to  battle  for  wliat  T  considered  to  be  right 
and  to  denounce  that  which  I  believed  to  be  wrong.  And 
thus,  through  my  life  T  have  acted  in  accordance  with  my 
nature,  and  doubtless  will  to  the  end  of  the  last  chapter. 

B.  A.  O.-A. 

Ann  Arbor,  April  25,  1879. 

My  Dear  Friend — I  shall  do  what  I  should  have  done  six 
weeks  agO' — answered  your  valued  letter,  I  thought  when 
I  left  home  I  should  have  an  abundance  of  time  to  de- 
vote to  letter  writing ;  but,  alas,  I  find  I  have  been  obliged 
to  drop  most  of  my  correspondents ;  have  only  saved  a  few 
choice  ones,  and  am  sorry  to  say  that  they  have  been  sadly 
neglected ;  but  when  I  tell  you  I  am  crowding  three  weeks' 
work  into  two,  you  will  not  censure  me.  You  know  I  have 
never  had  early  training.  I  find  it  hard  work  attempting 
such  a  science,  with  so  little  preparation ;  but  I  would  have 
you  understand  that  I  am  not  in  the  least  discouraged ;  to 
the  contrary,  I  am  greatly  encouraged.  My  health  is  excel- 
lent, and  I  have  accomplished  far  more,  thus  far,  than  I 
had  expected,  and  I  look  forward  to  when  I  shall  be  fully 
fitted  to  enter  upon  the  life-labor  of  my  choice. 

In  fifteen  months  from  now  I  hope  to  be  on  my  way  to 
Europe,  where  I  contemplate  spending  one,  perhaps  two, 
years.  Then  for  home,  and  friends.  You  are  right  when 
you  say  I  am  seeking  high  position  in  the  medical  profes- 
sion, I  am.  And  who  but  you,  my  dear,  honored  friend 
and  father  (for  you  have  been  a  father  to  me  in  the  true 
sense  of  the  term),  first  said  to  me,  "You  must  occupy  a 
professor's  chair;  I  would  have  no  other  place  for  you." 
God  knows  how  often  I  have  blessed  you  for  that  encour- 
agement, though  it  did  then  seem  an  impossibility.  The 
road  was  so  long ;  the  height  so  great ;  and  w-ithal,  I  had 
so  little  faith  in  mvself. 


294  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

'  Not  so  now.  I  feel  that  I  am  on  the  right  road,  and  some- 
times I  fancy  I  can  ahnost  see  the  g-limmer  of  rays  in  the 
not  far  distant  future.  And  thus  I  am  urged  on  and  on, 
receiving  new  strength  every  day. 

I  know  your  ambition  for  me  is  in  another  direction,  but 
I  feel  there  is  too  much  risk  involved  in  it,  and  it  would  pre- 
vent or  delay  the  consummation  of  other  plans  by  which 
I  believe  I  can  do  more  good  with  no  risk  to  health  or  life. 
T  feel  that  the  time  for  that  has  passed  now.  I  must  look 
for  the  crown  in  another  direction.  I  must  sacrifice  one,  and 
I  have  chosen  that  one  which  to  me  seems  fraught  with  less 
danger,  and  more  success.  True,  the  longings  of  my  heart 
reach  out  toward  the  other,  yet  I  must  be  content  with  that 
which  is  within  my  reach.  Circumstances  and  regulations 
forbid  the  one,  at  present,  and  may  never  favor  its  devol- 
opment,  but  I  shall  strive  to  make  up  for  the  loss  by  a  life 
well  spent;  this  I  promise  you. 

Please  write  when  you  find  time.  Your  letters  always 
encourage  me.  They  are  filled  with  beautiful  thoughts  and 
sentiment,  which  I  treasure  with  care  by  copying  in  a  blank 
book,  with  other  valuables.  Some  day  they  will  be  utilized. 
They  must  not  decay.  B.  A.  O. 

June,  1879. 
Dear  Friend — Yours  of  the  25th  ult.  was  received  yes- 
terday. If  I  could  believe  all  the  flattering  things  you  say 
of  me,  I  should  be  very  vain,  indeed ;  but  I  am  no  longer 
a  believer  in  my  own  judgment,  and  am  a  frequent  sufferer 
from  mistakes  in  my  own  person.  It  would  make  me  very 
unhappy  to  believe  that  errors  that  have  made  my  own  life 
a  failure  extended  their  baleful  influence  to  those  dear  to  me. 
I  have  of  late  felt  much  uneasiness  in  regard  to  you,  know- 
ing that  I  most  earnestly  advised  you  to  the  pursuit  of  knowl- 
edge.   I  have  feared  my  advice  had  some  influence  in  shap- 


SoMK  (>i-  Hi:k  Likh:  Experiences,  295 

ing  your  life,  and  that  success  in  your  high  pursuit  would 
be  too  dearly  paid  for,  if  gained  at  the  expense  of  your 
happiness. 

This  feeling  has  been  painfully  increased  by  a  little  inci- 
dent that  happened  when  I  was  in  Roseburg  last  month. 

Since  I  advised  a  sacrifice  of  your  heart  to  your  brain,  I 
think  your  lovep  has  looked  upon  me  as  an  enemy ;  at  any 
rate,  he  has  not  met  me  with  his  usual  cordiality, — and  I,  as 
a  matter  of  course,  have  not  called  upon  him.  This  time  I 
met  him  in  the  street,  saluted  him  pleasantly,  told  him  that 
I  had  lately  heard  from  our  mutual  friend,  Mrs.  Owens ; 
that  you  were  pleasantly  located  at  one  of  the  best  educa- 
tional institutions  in  the  Union,  and  pushing  your  studies 
with  the  energy  and  industry  which  he  knew  you  always 
practiced.  I  said  this  to  him,  as  I  wished  to  meet  the  only 
matter  which  could  cause  him  to  have  hard  feelings  toward 
me.  I  saw  that  he  was  glad  to  have  the  opportunity  to  talk 
of  you,  but  I  could  not  then  stop,  as  I  was  on  my  way  to 
meet  an  engagement  with  my  lawyers.  But  an  hour  after, 
in  the  dusk  of  the  evening,  I  found  him  in  the  same  place, 
and  the  desired  conversation  was  had. 

When  you  have  reached  your  highest  ambition,  and  are 
enthroned  on  your  coveted  professor's  chair,  with  the  approv- 
al of  those  whose  approval  is  fame,  it  is  not  probable  a  higher 
tribute  will  be  paid  to  you  than  by  those  two  earnest  men, 
so  widely  differing  from  each  other  in  age,  sentiments,  and 
pursuits,  but  each  finding  in  you  qualities  to  admire,  and 
to  love,  according  to  his  own  standard  of  excellence.  The 
one  estimating  you  as  a  bright  intellect,  eager  to  drink 
deeply  at  the  fountain  of  knowledge ;  to  the  other  as  a  bright, 
beautiful  w'oman,  loving,  and  inspiring  love.  To  the  one 
you  are  a  seraph ;  to  the  other  a  cherub ;  a  goddess  to  both. 

Your  medical  science  informs  you  that  for  the  health  of 
the  body  every  organ  must  have  full  play,  every  muscle  free 


296  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

exercise.  So,  also,  to  make  happy  the  mind,  a  free  intellect 
must  be  warmed  and  fostered  by  the  cultivation  of  the  affec- 
tions. 

To  gain  a  high  degree  of  knowledge,  it  is  not  neces- 
sary, as  you  seem  to  think,  that  all  the  cravings  of  the  wo- 
man's heart  must  be  denied.  On  the  contrary,  their  continual 
craving  for  indulgence  will  ultiniately  so  eugross  the  mind 
as  to  weaken  its  strength,  destroy  its  activity,  and  blunt 
its  perceptions.  True,  if  the  question  of  bread  and  butter 
was  involved,  it  would  make  a  difference,  but  this  is  not 
your  case.  You  have  enough  for  the  present,  and  may  pro- 
vide amply  for  the  future  by  accepting  the  love  and  protec- 
tion of  one  whose  long  and  faithful  devotion  ought  to  soft- 
en the  coldest  heart.  If  you  tell  him  that  after  you  com- 
plete the  tour  of  Europe  you  will  become  his  wife,  I  think 
you  will  make  him  extremely  happy,  and,  perhaps  fill  the 
void  in  your  own  heart.    Your  friend, 

Jesse  Applegate. 

Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  June  16,  1879. 
My  Dear  Friend — Your  valued  favor  is  before  me.  I  am 
very  sorry  that  you  should  feel  remorse  of  conscience  in  re- 
gard to  what  might  have  been  between  the  person  and  my- 
self. Now  let  me  forever  relieve  you  of  every  vestige  of  con- 
demnation in  that  direction,  and  believe  me  when  I  tell 
you  that  he  alone  was  the  cause,  and  the  only  cause  of  our 
separation.  He  knows  this,  and  should  not  blame  a  living 
being.  He  never  understood  me;  never  knew  how  to  treat 
me;  and  yet  he  loves  me  to  that  extent  that  he  is  jealous  of 
the  love  of  all  who  pay  me  respect.  His  ideas  of  woman's 
position  (sphere)  do  not  run  exactly  in  the  groove  with  my 
own.  I  never  was  born  to  be  controlled  by  the  light  of  any 
one's  opinion,  simply  because  that  person  happened  to  be 
a  man,  and  I  could  not  be  thus  led  if  that  person  had  be- 
come my  husband.     I  can  never  give  up  my  freedom,  my 


SoMK  OK  IIi:r  r.ri-K  Experiencks.  297 

indivKlualily  ;  f  will  not  be  subjected  to  vvliims  and  fancies. 
Gold  and  hixin-ics  do  not  tempt  me.  I  do  not  covet  an 
aimless,  or  fashionable  life,  made  up  of  dress,  parties,  dinners, 
gossip,  and  little  nothings.  Such  a  life  would  soon  bleach 
my  hair,  adorn  my  face  with  wrinkles,  and  transform  me 
into  a  hysterical  old  woman, — not  a  very  beautiful  picture, 
but  one  which  can  be  found  in  many  homes  of  wealth. 

I  will  anticipate  you  by  saying,  "Love  can  regulate  and 
control  all  these  objections." 

I  admit  that  it  has  done  wonders  in  the  right  direction, 
but  still  it  has  led  thousands  upon  thousands  to  destruction. 
The  loves  of  appetite  are  the  greatest  of  all  curses.  They 
may  have  their  origin  in  hereditary  ideas  and  principles, 
which,  as  you  know,  are  not  easily  eradicated,  especially 
when  sanctioned  by  society,  and  protected  by  law.  I  agree 
with  you  that  every  organ  of  the  body  does  require  exercise 
for  health,  but  not  equally  so,  one  with  another.  True,  the 
cultivation  of  the  affections  is  necessary  for  the  healthy  and 
happy  mind,  but  this  does  not  depend  upon  wedlock.  If 
we  are  lovable  we  will  be  loved.  Our  daily  lives  afford 
ample  opportunities  for  the  cultivation  of  these  refining  ele- 
ments. 

I  have  looked  this  subject  over.  I  have  studied  its  many 
surfaces  and  angles.  I  have  divided  it  into  its  different  ele- 
ments. I  have  tested  each  one.  And  today  I  thank  God  that 
I  had  sufficient  power  to  choose  the  path  which  T  did  select. 
Never  will  I  forget  the  encouraging  words  which  a^ou,  and 
one  other,  gave  me,  when  all  others  opposed.  The  tlesli  was 
weak.  I  needed  a  stimulus,  and  I  received  it.  Perchance 
it  was  the  workings  of  a  "guardian  angel"  that  sent  3'ou. 
Happy  thought ! 

When  I  return,  should  I  consent  to  accept  the  position 
which  you  seem  to  think  I  should  accept,  he  would  be  a  hap- 
pier man  than  he  ever  could  have  been  had  I  occupied  that 
place  years  ago. 


298  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

I  have  preached  )'0u  a  sermon.  How  do  you  like  it  ?  Am 
I  right,  or  am  I  wrong?  Talk  to  me  freely.  Show  me  all 
my  imperfections.  I  will  profit  by  it.  Oh,  if  I  only  had 
language,  words,  to  express  my  feelings  and  views !  I 
would  write  you  a  letter  on  this  subject  worth  reading.  But, 
alas,  I  have  but  a  conglomerate  mass  of  confusion  to  select 
from.     My  implements  are  all  rough,  unpolished. 

Well  do  I  know  what  long  years  of  persistent  toil  are  re- 
quired to  set  this  house  in  a  systematic,  working  order.  I 
am  equal  to  the  task,  if  life  and  health  are  spared  me.  I  shall 
succeed.  B.  A.  O. 

Yoncalla,  Oregon,  Aug.  27,  1883. 
Mrs.  B.  A.  Owens,  M.  D. 

My  Very  Dear  Friend — Your  kind  and  flattering  letter, 
addressed  to  me  at  this  place,  has  been  received,  and  prob- 
ably your  most  skilfully  prepared  prescription  never  soothed 
the  suffering  of  an  afflicted  body  more  than  your  kind  and 
affectionate  words  have  cheered  and  comforted  my  some- 
what drooping  spirit.  I  have  so  often  been  the  victim  of  mis- 
placed confidence, — so  often  by  misfortune,  had  reason  to 
doubt  the  soundness  of  my  own  judgment,— my  sincerity 
doubted,  and  my  motives  misjudged  by  others,  that  you 
can  scarce  conceive  how  proud  I  am  of  your  good  opinion 
and  kind  recollection. 

But,  my  dear  friend,  you  greatly  over-rate  the  little  1 
have  been  able  to  do  for  you.  It  is  true,  I  gave  you  my  best 
judgment,  and  my  warmest  sympathy,  unbiased  by  a  single 
selfish  motive;  but  it  is  to  your  own  strong  mind,  and  in- 
domitable energy  that  you  owe  your  success  in  life;  and  to 
your  merit,  not  to  luck  or  accident,  is  due  the  favors  that 
fortune  is  showering  upon  you.  Be  true  to  yourself,  and 
firm  in  the  pursuit  of  a  high  purpose  in  life,  and  neither 
men  nor  devils  can  prevent  you  from  reaching  the  goal  of 
your  ambition.     As   I  believe  it  will  give  you  pleasure,   I 


Some  oi-  IIiok  LiI'I';  I^xim-.kikncf.s.  299 

will  say  of  myself  that  I  am  in  better  health,  better  spirits, 
and  am  cheered  by  a  brighter  future  than  for  many  years  of 
the  past.  And,  should  I  continue  on  earth  a  few  more  years 
longer,  in  this  happy  condition  of  mind  and  body,  that  I 
shall  not  be  doomed  to  a  struggle  with  extreme  penury,  so 
crushing  to  life  and  manhood. 

If  years  are  granted  to  me,  I  hope  to  pass  some  of  them 
in  your  society, — to  see  you  daily,  and  perhaps  hold  in  v.\y 
arms  that  paragon  of  a  boy  who  is  in  the  flesh  to  transmit 
your  honored  name  and  noble  blood  to  posterity.  It  will 
be  one  of  my  greatest  pleasures  to  renew  the  friendly  and 
frequent  correspondence  that  once  existed  between  us.  That 
you  should  "Tell  me  all  that  is  in  thine  heart." 

I  will  rejoice  with  you  in  all  your  successes,  sympathize 
with  you  and  console  you  in  your  sorrows  and  misfortunes, 
and  counsel  with  you  in  your  troubles  and  perplexities.  All 
this  will  I  do,  because  my  heart  is  with  you.    As  ever  yours, 

Jesse  Applegate, 

Drain,  Oregon,  Sept.  16,  1887. 

My  Dear  Friend — It  would  afford  me  much  pleasure  to 
witness  your  happiness  as  that  of  any  living  person,  I  think, 
after  your  hard  struggle,  and  glorious  conquest  over  adverse 
fortune,  you  should  enjoy  the  fruits  of  your  labors,  while  it 
is  yet  time.  But  when  our  bodies  are  worn  out,  and  death 
is  at  times  hovering  near  us,  it  is  too  late  to  expect  much 
more  from  the  enjoyments  of  sense. 

But  I  hear  nothing  from  you  about  woman's  rights. 
Has  the  woman  of  grass  prevailed  over  the  woman  of  spirit  ? 
Has  a  good  and  loving  husband  proved  to  be  all  that  a 
woman  needs  to  make  her  happy  in  this  world?  I  think 
it  is  even  so.  But,  as  man  partakes  of  two  natures,  mental 
and  physical,  the  pleasures  of  sense  are  not  satisfying.  The 
immortal  part  craves  its  enjoyments  also.  The  body  seeks 
relaxation   and   repose,   while   the   ever-sleepless    mind   de- 


300  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

mahds  change,  and  must  have  it.  Natures  Hke  ours  are  not 
to  be  satisfied  with  any  amount  of  the  good,  or  goods,  of 
the  known,  but  continually  seek  acquaintance  with  the  mys- 
teries that  surround  it.  And  there  are  plenty  of  them. 
When  the  little  "god"  has  done  his  work,  your  mind  will 
return  to  its  work,  with  greater  energy  and  strength  for  its 
relaxation  and  rest.  Then,  and  not  while  you  are  in  dalli- 
ance with  sensual  love,  will  your  mind  and  mine  be  in  ac- 
cord with  each  other. 

Give  my  best  respects  to  your  husband,  and  assure  him 
that  I  do  not  envy  him  his  happiness.    Sincerely  your  friend, 

Jesse  Applegate. 

Mrs.  B.  a.  Adair. 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  301 


CHAPTER  XXni. 

LIST  OF  CLATSOP   PIONEERS. 

Astoria,  Ore.,  May  27,  1898. 
Mrs.  B.  Owens-Adair : 

Dear  Madam — I  enclose  a  list  of  names  taken  from  the 
pioneer  and  historical  records,  confining  myself,  in  accord- 
ance with  your  suggestion,  to  those  who  live  to  the  Scrip- 
ture allotment  of  three-score  and  ten.  Sveral  names  on 
your  list  (which  I  return  herewith)  are  not  entered  on  the 
said  records,  and  I  have  no  means  of  giving  you  the  de- 
sired information.    Yours  respectfully, 

E.    C.    HOLDEN. 

Secretary  Pioneer  Society  of  Clatsop  County. 

LIST  OF  CLATSOP  PIONEERS. 

Names.  Arrived. 

Adair,  John,  Sr Apr.  1849 

Adair,  Mrs.  M.  A Apr.  1849 

Abell,  Miss  Ann 1843 

Burnside.  David   July,  1847 

Boelling,   Conrad    Nov.  1847 

Boelling,   Mrs.  C Nov.  1847 

Condit,  Alvah   Oct.  1844 

Condit,  Mrs.  Ruth Dec.  1844 

Carnahan,-  Hiram   Oct.  1846 

Callender,  Philo    Nov.  1850 

Callender,  Mrs.  A.  M July,  1860 

Coffenberry,  G.  M 1846 

Davidson,  Geo Mar.  1850 

Eberman.    N.   E Oct.  1843 

Elder    Very  early 


Born. 

Died. 

1808 

1889 

1816 

1893 

1  Q1 1 

1872 

1803 

1818 

1898 

1799 

1883 

1804 

1887 

1820 

1896 

1805 

1890 

1806 

1888 

1814 

1898 

1828 

living 

1821 

1890 

about  1859 

302  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

Names.  Arrived. 

Ferguson,  A.  W Aug.  1850 

Ferrell,  Ferdinand   Mar.  1849 

Ferrell,  Mrs .... 

Gray,  Wm.  H Sept.  1836 

Gray,  Mrs.  M.  A Aug.  1838 

Gearhart,  Philip   Sept.  1848 

Gearhart,  Margaret    Sept.  1848 

Gilman,  Capt.  M.  M June,  1850 

Hobson,  Wm Oct.  1843 

Hobson,  John Oct.  1843 

Hobson,  Mrs.  Diana Dec.  1843 

Higgins,   Joseph   D Sept.  1850 

Hall,  Samuel   Very  early 

Holman,  Joseph  D May,.  1840 

Ingalls,  David Oct.  1845 

Jeffers,  Joseph   Sept.  1847 

Jeffers,  Mrs.  Sarah 1847 

Johnson,  Capt.   Philip .... 

Judson,  L.   A 1839 

Judson,  Mrs 1839 

Kindred,   B.   C Dec.  1844 

Kindred,  Mrs.  Rachel Dec.  1844 

Lanphear,  Hester  1847 

Marlin,  —   Very  early 

McEwan,  Robt.  S Oct.  1846 

Moffat,  J.  W .Nov.  1844 

Morrison,  R.  W July,  1847 

Morrison,  Mrs.  Nancy July,  1847 

Morgan,  David Dec.  1852 

McKean,   S.  T 1847 

Motley,  — 1844 

McKean,  Mrs.  Polly  Hicks..  1847 

Munson,  J.  W 1853 

Munson,  Mrs.  Sophia 1837 


Born. 

Died. 

1821 

1891 

1813 

1879 

1810 

1889 

1810 

1881 

1810 

1881 

1898 

1811 

1880 

1797 

1879 

1824 

1896 

1838 

1874 

1823 

1896 

1808 

1880 

1807 

1876 

1808 

1902 



1897 

1818 



1821 

1898 

1786 

1876 

1813 

Hving 

1806 

1888 

1811 

1894 

1809 

1889 

1820 

1904 



1873 

1798 

1877 

1809 

1899 

.... 

living 

JJorn. 

Died. 

1800 

1877 

1814 

1874 

1820 

1901 

1820 

.... 

1825 

.... 

1803 

1883 

1818 

1878 

SoMK   OF    HliK    LlFK    KxiTiRIENCES.  303 

Names.  Arrived. 

McCrary,  Matthew  Sept.  1850 

McCrary,  Mrs Sept.  1850 

Montgomery,  Mrs.  Fannie.  . .  .... 

Naylor,   Thos.   G Nov.  1843 

Nowlen,   Michael    1848 

Nowlen,    Nancy    ....  ....  .... 

Owens,  Thomas   Oct.  1843  1808  1875 

Olney,   Cyrus    Nov.  1839  

Ohiey,  Mrs Nov.  1839  

Pease,  David Sept.  1849 

Pease,  Mrs.  Hannah Sept.  1849 

Powers,  Truman  P Nov.  1846 

Powers.  Mrs.  T.  P Dec.  1846 

Perry,  W.  T 1842 

Parrish,   J.   L 1839 

PhilUps,  Miss   1839 

Robinson,  John  1844 

Rogers,  Moses  July,  1850 

Ross,  Job  W 1852 

Ross,  Mrs.  Mary .... 

Raymond,  W.  W 1839 

Smith,   Solomon    Oct.  1832 

Stevens,  Charles  Oct.  1852 

Shortess,  Robert Nov.  1839 

Trask,  Eldrege   1842  

Trask,  Mrs.   E 1842  

Tuller,  Jerry   Very  early  ....  .... 

Taylor,  James   1844  1809  1894 

Taylor,  Mrs.  Esther 1844  1823  1873 

Taylor,  Luke Very  early  ....  .... 

Taylor,  Lewis   Very  early  ....  .... 

Tibbitts,  —   '  1848  

Thompson,  Rev.  Lewis 1845  1809  1897 

Thompson,  Mrs ....  ....  .... 

Welch,  James   1844  1816  1876 

Welch,  Mrs.  Nancy 1844  1818  1894 

Wirt,  Andrew 1843  


1817 

1890 

1811 

1895 

1809 

1876 

1811 

1797 

1878 

304  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

a  roseburg  personal  parody. 

1858. 

In  Roseburg  town,  of  some  renown, 

As  fancy  leads  my  song, 
A  host  of  Sharpers  now  are  found, 

Who  push  the  trade  along. 
Of  Patriarchs   and   Prophets  bold, 

Old  Abraham  we  choose. 
To  lead  the  goods  safe  through  the  Floed, 

With  all  the  Dearborn  Jezvs. 
When  Weaver  first  his  trade  began, 

Old  Vulcan  forged  the  ore; 
Then  Sutton  was  a  little  man, 

And  never  will  grow  Moore. 
The  Parrot  Sweet-\y  sings  its  song; 

The  Martin  swift  of  wing; 
The  Crane's  an  awkward,  long-legged  bird,- 

Of  Fishers  he's  the  king. 
When  Sheridan,  on  Ganges'  bank, 

With  language  true  and  bold, 
Lord  Hastings'  cruelties  portrayed, 

And  all  his  evils  told, 
This  same  old  Coon  was  in  the  town; 

His  imp's  a  funny  splinter ; 
He  sports  his  "tokens,"  White  and  Brown, 

In  Summers,  and  in  Winter. 
When  Morgan  first  the  "grippe"  exposed, 

By  Chance,  he  left  our  main ; 
Another  Party  then  A.  Rose 

To  try  our  Flint  again. 
Though  Hamilton  was  killed  by  Burr, 

His  ghost  is  now  in  town ; 
While  Marks  and  Green  may  both  be  seen. 

With  Lenhair,  Tarry  round. 


vSoMR   OK    IllOK    FjI'IC    I'^X  I'KRIENCES.  305 

The  city's  guard,  in  every  Ward, 

In  alleys,  streets  and  Lanes, 
With  Ross,  and  Cole,  and  every  soul 

But  Pyle,  and  Jones,  and  Ilaynes, 
Will  wonder  all,  both  great  and  Small, 

And  laugh  as  loud  as  may  be ; 
And  Hoover,  too,  will  join  the  hue; — 

Lord,  Fiske  has  found  a  baby ! 
But,  come,  my  muse,  and  take  a  cruise, 

Let's  drop  our  pen  and  laugh; 
And  bid  adieu  to  Jacob's  crew, 

And  Aaron's  noisy  calf.  ' 
Then  come,  friend  Coon,  just  start  the  tune, 

And  "trot  this  through  the  press" ; 
Our  thanks  to  you  will  then  be  due, — 

Yea,  Moore  than  we  Express. 

John  Fitzhugh. 

EXPERIENCE   AS    A    NURSE. 

1859. 

In  the  pioneer  days,  when  the  professional  nurse  was  un- 
known, every  willing,  capable  woman  received  her  training 
as  a  nurse  from  actual  experience  in  her  neighbors'  homes,  as 
well  as  in  her  own.  Often  no  physician  was  in  reach,  and 
she  was  forced  to  depend  alone  on  her  own  observation  and 
common  sense. 

Long  before  she  studied  medicine,  Mrs.  Owens  had  proved 
her  great  natural  ability  to  care  for  the  sick ;  and  her  services 
were  much  sought  after  far  and  near.  When  she  did  accept 
remuneration,  she  received  the  best  wages  paid  to  any  woman 
at  that  time. 

She  was,  on  one  occasion,  employed  by  a  farmer  named 
Kelly,  who  lived  two  miles  from  Roseburg,  to  nurse  his 
wife  during  confinement.    The  babe  was  born  the  day  after 


306  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

IMrs.  Owens'  arrival,  and  she  was  expected  to  take  the  whole 
charge  of  the  house ; — doing  the  work  of  a  trained  nurse,  in 
attending  the  mother  and  child  day  and  night,  besides  caring' 
for  the  two  older  children,  and  her  own  four  years  old  boy ; 
and  doing  all  the  housework  and  cooking  for  the  family, 
which  consisted  of  the  man,  wife,  and  three  children,  four 
hired  men  (as  it  was  harvest  time),  and  herself  and  little 
boy.  She  kept  the  infant  with  her  nights,  to  allow  the 
mother  complete  rest;  was  up  at  four  every  morning,  after 
being  kept  awake  by  the  baby,  which  always  had  to  be  fed 
at  least  twice  in  the  night;  and  attended  to  the  milk  of  ten 
cows,  and  made  the  butter  from  them ;  kept  the  house  clean 
and  orderly ;  did  all  the  cooking  for  eleven  persons ;  and 
washing  and  ironing  for  six  persons,  fed  the  fowls,  and 
carried  all  the  wood  she  used  up  a  flight  of  stairs.  All  this- 
she  did  faithfully  and  well,  working  hard  every  day  and  part 
of  the  night.  The  hired  men  received  $2  per  day,  and  rested 
on  Sundays. 

When  three  weeks  had  passed,  and  the  wife  was  able  to< 
resume  her  duties,  Mrs.  Owens  prepared  to  depart,  and  the 
farmer,  running  his  hand  down  into  liis  pocket,  asked  how 
much  she  was  going  to  charge. 

"Five  dollars  a  week,"  she  timidly  answered,  knowing  that 
it  was  more  than  a  woman's  work  was  considered  worth,  but 
feehng  that  she  had  fully  earned  it.  The  man's  face  fell, 
and  he  surlily  said,  as  he  drew  his  hand  empty  from  his  pock- 
et, "I  didn't  expect  to  be  asked  to  pay  over  three  dollars  a 
week,  but  if  you  will  take  it  in  an  order  on  Heinerberg's- 
store,  I  will  pay  you  five  dollars." 

Lacking  the  courage  to  assert  her  rights,  she  unwillingly 
accepted  the  order,  which  she  was  obliged  to  exchange  for 
the  poorest  quality  of  goods  at  the  highest  prices; — for  in- 
stance, paying  twenty-five  cents  per  yard  for  calico,  which  we- 
now  get  for  five  cents. 

This  experience  had  its  part,  among  many  similar  ones,. 


Some  of  IIi;r  I.ii-e  Experiences.  307 

in  spurring'-  her  on  to  more  determined  efforts  for  frccrlom 
of  action,  and  a  better  recoj^nilirjn  pectmiarily  and  otlicr- 
wise,  of  her  services  and  ablHty ;  and  helped  to  shape  lier 
mind  into  more  inde[)cn(lent  channels  of  thought  regarrling 
the  status  of  woman,  and  her  rights  to  equal  compensation 
with  man  for  equal  work. 

The  foregoing  experience  always  rankled  in  her  heart, 
and  she  said  to  herself :  "The  time  will  come  when  that 
man  Kelly  will  be  glad  to  acknowledge  my  superiority."  For, 
though  an  ignorant  foreigner,  he  had  looked  down  on  her, 
and  treated  her  as  a  servant. 

That  day  did  come. 

Many  years  later,  when  Dr.  Owens,  was  at  the  zenith  of 
her  professional  fame  and  success,  she  was  one  day  on  board 
the  cars,  going  to  the  state  capital  on  public  business,  in  con- 
nection with  the  legislative  session. 

A  number  of  prominent  gentlemen,  who  were  her  friends 
and  fellow-passengers,  had  gathered  about  her  seat,  en- 
gaging in  animated  conversation  when  this  man  Kelly  ap- 
proached, anxious  to  let  it  be  seen  that  he  also  knew  her.  At 
first,  after  all  those  years,  she  did  not  recognize  him  ;  and 
when  he  was  obliged  to  recall  himself  to  her,  she  received 
him  politely,  but,  with  his  supercilious  treatment  of  the  past 
still  unforgotten,  she  could  not  find  it  in  her  heart  to  be 
cordial,  and  he  soon  retired,  disccomfited. 

The  doctor  then  realized  that  Time  does,  sometimes, 
turn  the  tables,  and  brings  compensation  to  those  who  have 
suffered  undeservedly. 

The  "wheel  of  fortune"'  Jiad  turned,  and  now  she  was  up, 
and  he  was  down,  and  she  had  made  her  prophecy  come  to 
pass,  and  she  reflected  upon  how  true  it  is  that  a  nature  that 
domineers  over  anyone  in  its  power,  is  always  ready  to  play 
the  sycophant  to  those  who  are  above  it. 


308  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

A    FEW    VALENTINES    RECEIVED    BY    THE    DOCTOR    OVER    FORTY 

YEAES  AGO. 

TO    BETHENIA. 

1860. 

My  dearest,  truest,  kindest  friend, 
Accept  the  little  shrubs  I  send; 
Take  them,  then,  as  friendship's  token, 
Warmer  felt  than  can  be  spoken. 

A  lasting  emblem  may  they  be 

Of  friendship  twixt  myself  and  thee. 

The  time  has  come ;  adieu,  adieu ! 

We  part,  perhaps  forever ; 

But  something  binds  myself  to  you 

That  distance  cannot  sever. 

Oh,  may  grief  or  sorrow  never 
Upon  your  spirit  prey ; 
But  may  sweetest  pleasures  ever 
Be  strewn  along  your  way. 

Should  all  other  friends  discard  you, 
And  friendship's  vows  forget; 
There  is  one  that  still  regards  you, — •* 
Your  faithful  friend,  G 1. 

VALENTINE. 

Though  fate,  my  love,  may  bid  us  part, 
Our  souls  it  cannot,  shall  not  sever; 
The  heart  will  seek  its  kindred  heart, 
And  cling  to  it  as  close  as  ever. 
St.  Valentine's  Day,  1868.  HOPE. 


SoMK  ()]■•  lli:i<  Lii'i':  JCxi'kkiences.  309 

FORGET    THE    PAST. 

Forget  the  past,  with  sadness  fraught, 
Which  Hke  a  fitful  dream  has  fled ; 

Since  all  the  cares  and  joys  it  brought 
Are  numbered  with  the  dead. 

Yes,  gone  its  hours  of  peace  and  love ; 

Of  misery,  and  dark  despair. 
That  taught  the  soul  to  look  above 

These  scenes  of  earthly  care. 

What  dark  clouds  have  cast  their  shades 

Across  the  troubled  path  of  life; 
They  only  have  thy  spirit  made 

More  mighty  for  the  strife. 

Then  let  the  past  forgotten  be, 

And  to  the  future  turn  thine  eyes. 

What  seemed  as  evils  unto  thee 
Were  blessings  in  disguise. 

And  thou  shalt  find,  in  all  thy  woes, 

A  hand  that  will  assistance  lend ; 
A  breast  on  which  thou  canst  repose; 

A  never-failing  friend. 

Dear  Bethenia : 

There's  pleasure  in  the  lowliest  lot 

With  pure  affection,  undefiled; 
There's  rapture  in  the  poorest  cot 

That  boasts  a  little  child. 

And  teeming  wealth,  and  lowly  state. 

Without  such  buds,  are  desolate. 
Oh,  let  me  share  with  thee  thy  joy; 

Thy  heart,  thy  home,  and  darling  boy. 

Roseburg,  Or.,  Feb.  14,  1859. 


310  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

Roseburg,  February  14th,  1860. 
Mrs.  B.  Owens : 

I  cannot  tell  thee,  gentle  friend, 

How  oft  my  thoughts  to  thee  are  given. 

Nor  yet  how  oft  I  pray  that  thou 
Mayst  be  the  special  care  of  Heaven. 

Thou  wouldst  not  deem  thyself  forgot, 
Could'st  thou  but  see  this  heart  of  mine ; 

And  know  how  constantly  it  longs 
For  the  companionship  of  thine. 

And  this  may  be  your  loving  Valentine, 

A.  B.  O.  M. 

Roseburg,  Feb.  14th,  1860. 

She  is  modest,  but  not  bashful ; 

Free  and  easy,  but  not  bold ; 
Like  an  apple,  ripe  and  mellow, — 

Not  too  young,  and  not  too  old. 
Half  inviting,  half  repulsing; 

Now  advancing,  and  now  shy ; 
There  is  mischief  in  her  dimple ; 

There  is  danger  in  her  eye. 

She  has  studied  human  nature ; 

She  is  schooled  in  all  its  arts ; 
She  has  taken  her  diploma 

As  the  mistress  of  all  hearts. 
She  can  tell  the  very  moment 

When  to  sigh,  and  when  to  smile. 
True,  a  maiden's  sometimes  charming, 

But  a  widow  all  the  while. 


SoAii":  oi-   lli'.K  l>ri'i';  Ivxi'i'.Rfi^NCES.  311 

Are  you  sad,  how  very  serious 

Will  her  handsome  face  become. 
Are  you  anp^ry,  she  is  wretched ; 

Lonely,  friendless,  tearful,  dumb. 
Are  you  mirthful,  how  her  laughter, 

Silver-sounding,  will  ring  out; 
She  can  lure,  and  catch,  and  play  you. 

As  the  angler  does  the  trout. 

Your  Faithful, 
Valentine. 


TO    BETHEANY. 

I  admit  you  are  handsome,  but  still  I  should  guess 

That  others  are  handsome  as  you. 
I've  heard  you  called  charming, — but  you  must  confess 

That  all  things  we  hear  are  not  true. 
You  think  me  the  slave  of  your  charms, — I'll  allow 

That  in  graces  but  few  are  above  you. 
Yet,  charming  and  fair  as  I  see  you,  I  vow 

That, — I  cannot  deny  it, — I  love  you  ! 

I  love  thee,  and  I  feel 

That  in  the  fountain  of  my  heart,  a  seal 
Is  set,  to  keep  its  waters  pure  and  bright,  for  thee! 


A   VALENTINE. 

My  fair,  kind,  true,  and  gentle  friend, 

May  God  bless  thee,  is  the  wish  I  to  thee  send. 

Thy  dear  name  will  ever  live  in  my  heart ; 

May  you  ever  enjoy  plesaure,  and  from  her  never  part. 

This  is  the  wish  from  a  friend  that  is  true ; 

And  thinks,  dreams,  lives,  only  for  you. 

Roseburg,  Feb.  14th,  1866. 


312  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair, 

to  my  true  friend. 

Beautiful  thou  art ;  and  kind  to  me. 
Each  thought  of  thine  I  feel  and  see. 
Time  will  tell  what  I  speak  is  true. 
Heaven  knows  my  thoughts  are  only  of  you. 
Even  an  unkind  word  from  thee 
Never  lets  my  rest  be  free. 
In  Him  above  let's  hope  to  be  forgiven ; 
And  I  hope  to  call  3^ou  my  angel  in  Heaven. 

Roseburg,  Oregon,  Feb.  14th,  1867. 


TO  BETHENIA A  VALENTINE. 

Believe  me,  or  believe  me  not, 

At  other  shrines  I  may  not  bow. 
The  world  itself  may  be  forgot, 

But  never,  oh,  but  never  thou. 

Though  absent,  I  recall  thy  charms, 
And  wish,  as  lovers,  when  they  part, 

That  I,  hke  them'd  a  thousand  arms 

To  press  thee,  to  clasp  thee,  to  my  heart. 

There's  not  a  pulse  within  my  breast, 
But  throbs  and  trembles  to  thy  touch. 

Forget,  ah,  no !  the  fear  is  best ; 

My  heart,  perhaps,  might  love  o'er  much. 

Thy  very  name  each  pulse  alarms ; 

And  oft,  though  vain,  the  wish  would  start 
That  vine-like  Fd  a  thousand  arms 

To  press  thee,  to  clasp  thee,  to  my  heart. 


Some  of  IIiiK  Life  Experiences.  313 

TO  THE  PHOTOGRAPH  OF  MY  LFITLE  FRIEND  BERTHA. 

(Original.) 

Sweet  image  of  my  little  pet, 

Thy  presence  here  will  ever  be 
A  source  of  pleasure — not  regret; 

I  welcome  thee,  I  welcome  thee. 

Thy  sparkling  eyes,  and  lovely  face. 

And  form,  from  imperfection  free, 
Gives  unto  thee  a  heavenly  grace ; 

I  welcome  thee,  I  welcome  thee. 

Although  thy  spirit-form  hath  flown. 

And  thou,  alone,  art  left  to  me, 
Sweet  semblance,  thou  art  all  my  own; 

I  welcome  thee,  I  welcome  thee. 

Come    weal,    come    woe !      We'll    never   part ; 

United  we  shall  ever  be. 
Thy  future  home  is  near  my  heart; 

I  welcome  thee,  I  welcome  thee. 

We'll  cling  together  to  the  end. 

Whether  it  be  on  land  or  sea ; 
Sweet  image  of  my  little   friend, 

I  welcome  thee,  I  welcome  thee. 

December  17,  1865. 


314  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 


TO  ANGIE. 


Alone  here  I  sit,  in  deep  meditation ; 

Every  thought  of  my  mind  has  flown  far  away. 
The  birds  sing  so  sweetly  in  yonder  green  bower; 

But   none   of   these   charms   are   attractive   to  me. 

Why  do  I  love  you,  my  pretty-eyed  darling? 

Why  do  the  flowers  all  look  to  the  sun? 
Why  do  the  lilies  close  up  their  sweet  petals 

When   all   earth   sleepeth,   and   daylight  is   done? 

Why  do  the  stars,  on  the  verge  of  the  evening, 
Burn  the  more  brilliant,  the  darker  the  night? 

Why  do  we  see  the  most  beauty  in  heaven 
When  the  day  fadeth,  and  gone  is  the  light? 

Ask  not  of  all  the  secret  things  hidden; 

I  may  not  answer,  my  darling,  my  own; 
Love  ever  comes  to  us  free  and  unbidden ; 

Whither  it  comes  from  is  just  as  unknown. 

Only  "I  love  thee,"  my  heart  telleth  to  me; 

Wherefore  I  love  thee,  I  know  not,  nor  care. 
'Tis  not  the  charm  of  thy  dark  eyes  so  pretty, 

'Tis  not  the  hue  of  thy  sunny  brown  hair. 

Why  do  I  love  thee,  O  lip  of  red  ripeness? 

Why  do  I  love  thee,  O  heart  of  rare  gold? 
Ask  me  no  longer,  my  darling,  my  treasure; 

Love  such  as  mine  is  can  never  be  told. 

Just  as  untold  as  why  the  stars  love  thee ; 

Why  shuts  the  lily-cup ;  just  as  unknown — 
This  is  the  all  I  may  whisper  thee,  darling; 

Only  "I  love  thee,"  my  darling,  my  own. 


SoMic  OF  IIkr  Life  Expfriknces.  315 

GOING  AWAY  TOMORROW. 

Darling  Angie : 

"Going  away  tomorrow." 

Ah,  darling,  what  lonely  words! 
They  hring  a  vision  before  me 

Of  southward-flying  birds ; 
Of  falling  leaves,  and  the  patter* 

Of  rain  on  the  ghostly  trees, 
From  the  gray  skies  of  November, 

And  what  drearier  things  than  these? 

"Going  away  tomorrow." 

You  cannot  comprehend 
The  measure  of  loss  and  sorrow 

In  these  words  for  me,  my  friend. 
I  shall  miss  your  voice  and  footstep. 

And  the  light  of  your  loving  eye; 
And  my  lonely  heart  will  be  haunted 

By  the  sad,  sad  words  :  "Good  bye." 

"Going  away  tomorrow." 

For  you  there'll  be  faces  new. 
The  strange  skies  bending  o'er  you 

Will  have  a  charm  for  you. 
In  the  change  that  is  all  about  you. 

Your  homesick  thoughts  will  flee ; 
But  how  in  the  land  you  go  from? 

What  a  lonesome  land  for  me. 

"Going  away  tomorrow." 

To  the  world  beyond  the  hills. 
God  give  you  the  good  things  in  it. 

And  keep  you  from  all  ills. 
In  my  heart,  that  is  warm  and  steadfast. 

Keeps  a  living  thought  of  you ; 
And  be  sure  I  shall  aye  remember 

The  darling  I've  told  "Adieu." 

Composed  and  written  by  one  far  away,  from  the  loveliest 
woman  on  earth,  by  the  author,  H.  C. 


316  Dr.  Owens -Adair. 

The  following  letter  so  vividly  and  humorously  describes 
the  religious  customs  and  ideas,  and  so  pleasantly  pic- 
tures the  life  of  the  settlers  in  those  primitive  days,  that  it 
is  well  worthy  of  preservation  here.  Mrs.  Owens  was,  at 
this  time,  in  San  Francisco,  learning  the  milliner's  trade. 

Roseburg,  Ore.,  Dec.  9,  1867. 

My  Dearest  Friend — I  really  feel  sad  to  learn  that  you 
enjoyed  such  a  rough  journey,  and  being  sick  at  the  time 
it  must  have  been  a  hard  time  for  you.  I  hope  you  are  all 
right  ere  this  will  reach  you.  I  did  not  think  that  anything 
could  induce  you  to  return,  but  your  flowers,  but  I  see 
you  don't  even  love  them.  I  really  don't  know  what  would 
induce  you  now  to  return.  I  did  think  that  you  thought  of 
your  flowers  more  than  anything  else.  Still,  I  live  in  hopes, 
for  all  men  live  so. 

I  have  many  good  things  to  inform  you. 

First  is,  father  joined  the  church  last  night.  Also  Isaac 
Jones  and  family.     (Southern  church.) 

Flem  (Dr.  Adair's  brother)  was  baptized  yesterday,  in 
Stevens'  creek ;  also  Bent.  K.  Bent,  made  a  fool  of  himself 
by  his  actions. 

Ti.  (also  her  brother)  told  me  if  I  would  give  him  50 
cents  he  would  pitch  him  out  of  the  house. 

He  bawled  like  a  calf.  Part  of  the  congregation  left,  in 
disgust. 

He  pitched  himself  on  his  back,  and  lay  there  for  half  an 
hour,  and  bawled  like  a  fool.  Oh,  I  would  give  anything, 
most,  if  you  had  been  there  to  witness  it. 

After  going  down  to  the  river,  C,  that  sweet  bird,  was 
baptized. 

They  came  after  Bent.,  and  he  refused  to  go  in.  Ti  told 
him  to  either  be  baptized  or  leave  the  place;  and,  after  a 
long  talk,  he  was  put  under.  (Would  have  been  a  good 
thing  if  be  never  came  up.) 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  .'517 

Ti  and  father  arc  here,  and  many  talking  of  church  again 
tonight. 

I  don't  know  what  I  can  say  to  induce  you  to  come  home, 
unless  it  is  that  if  you  don't  come  shortly,  the  river  will  rise, 
and  you  can't  get  home.  I  hope  this  will  find  you  in  good 
health ;  also  Jane  and  babes. 

Excuse  these  mistakes,  for  Ti  has  troubled  me  so  much 
trying  to  find  out  whether  I  am  writing  to  you.  I  told 
him  "No"  half  a  dozen  times.  He  assures  me  that  the  let- 
ter I  received  today  is  from  you.  I  told  him  it  was  from 
Portland.  He  is  also  writing  at  the  desk  to  Ann.  Why 
don't  you  come  home?     From  your  ever  true  friend, 

A.  M. 
P.  S. — Do  come. 

A  REMINISCENCE  OF  WAR-TIME. 

During  the  first  years  of  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  Mr. 
Owens,  senior,  father  of  Dr.  Owens-Adair,  lived  near  Rose- 
burg,  where  a  goodly  proportion  of  the  settlers  were,  like 
himself,  southern  born.  Naturally,  they  sympathized  with 
the  South.  There  was  strong  feeling  on  both  sides,  but  the 
Union  men  were  in  the  majority. 

Som  of  the  young  Southern  men,  in  their  hot-blooded  en- 
thusiasm, offered  to  furnish  the  silk,  for  a  Confederate  flag, 
to  a  young  daughter  of  Mr.  Owxns,  if  she  would  make  it. 
The  young  girl,  a  mere  child  of  twelve  or  thirteen  years, — 
too  young  to  realize  the  seriousness  of  the  undertaking, — ac- 
cept the  material,  sewed  the  flag  (quite  a  small  one),  and, 
climbing  a  tree  in  front  of  her  home,  hung  it  on  a  promi- 
nent branch. 

This  was  done  unknown  to  her  mother,  and  in  the  absence 
of  her  father,  both  of  whom  would  not  have  permitted  the 
unwise  act,  had  they  known  of  it.  x\s  soon  as  it  was  known 
that  a  Confederate  flag  was  flying  in  front  of  ]Mr.  Owens' 
house,  threats  were  made  by  the  young  Union  men  to  tear 


318  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

it  down,  some  of  them  using  violent  and  abusive  language. 
This  was  heard  by  a  son  of  Mr.  Owens,  a  youth  of  18  or  19, 
who  ran  quickly  home  to  warn  his  family.  Mr.  Owens, 
senior,  was  still  absent  from  home,  but  Mrs.  Owens,  the 
plucky  mother  of  the  family,  now  first  apprised  of  the 
existence  of  the  flag,  was  not  to  be  forced  to  obey  the  be- 
hest of  an  angry  and  insulting  mob ;  and  she  and  her  son, 
armed  with  guns,  appeared  on  the  front  porch,  where  she 
coolly  informed  the  irate  crowd  that  the  first  one  who  dared 
to  lay  hands  on  that  flag  would  be  a  dead  man. 

They  did  not  dare,  and  soon  went  their  ways.  The  flag 
remained  in  its  place  unmolested  until  it  was  worn  out  by 
the  elements. 

Dr.  Owens-Adair,  who  at  this  time  sympathized  with  her 
family,  was  of  too  just  and  broad  a  mind  not  to  see  both 
sides  of  the  question  and  rise  above  the  strong  influences 
of  childhood,  hence  she  was  later  as  loyal  to  the  Union  as 
any  Northern  citizen. 


SoMF,  OF  Her  Life  Experiences.  319 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

SCHOOL  LIFE,  1862-3. 

As  a  student,  Dr.  Adair  was  always  painstaking  and  thor- 
ough, but  in  the  beginning,  before  her  mind  became  trained 
to  its  later  keenness,  she  required  time  to  come  to  a  solu- 
tion of  abstruse  subjects.  Inded,  all  she  has  ever  acquired 
has  been  by  sheer  determination  and  hard  work. 

On  one  occasion,  at  a  recitation  in  advanced  grammar, 
there  were  several  different  analyses  of  a  very  complex  sen- 
tence submitted  by  the  young  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  the 
class. 

Some  brought  no  analysis  at  all,  claiming  that  it  was  too 
difficult  for  them.  But  most  of  the  class, — notably  the 
young  ladies, — had  diagrammed,  analyzed  and  parsed  the 
sentence  according  to  their  understanding  of  it. 

Mrs.  Owens  had  a  well-defined  solution,  which  she 
promptly  put  upon  the  black-board,  and  convinced  all  save 
one  member  of  the  class  of  its  correctness.  Miss  A.'s  an- 
alysis was  different,  and  she,  also,  demonstrated  her  view  of 
it  at  the  board. 

The  professor,  however,  decided  in  favor  of  Mrs. 
Owens'  analysis,  and  the  dissenting  classmate  said  no  more, 
though  none  the  less  convinced  that  her  own  rendering  was 
the  correct  one. 

The  next  day  Mrs.  Owens  announced  decisively  in  the 
class  that  she  had  been  thinking  that  sentence  over  and  had 
seen  her  own  error,  and  it  was  now  clear  to  her  that  ■Miss  A. 
was  right  in  her  construction,  which  Mrs.  Owens  pro- 
ceeded to  clearly  elucidate  to  the  class.  The  professor 
(unlike  Mrs.  Owens),  unwilling  to  acknowledge  himself 
mistaken,    merely    remarked    that    "the    sentence   might   be 


320  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

construed  either  way,"  and  dismissed  the  subject.  Mrs. 
Owens,  however,  always  stoutly  maintained  what  was  the 
fact,  that  there  was  but  one  correct  analysis  of  the  dis- 
puted sentence, — that  of  Miss  A. 

This  incident  well  illustrated  a  fine  point  in  her  character. 
Firm,  unyielding,  assertive,  when  consciously  in  the  right, 
she  was  also  prompt  and  frank  in  owning  herself  mis- 
taken when  convinced  of  it,  and  always  ready  and  anxious 
to  do  justice  to  her  opponent. 

This  broadness  of  spirit  only  from  a  character  in  which 
a  sincere  and  intense  love  of,  and  desire  for  correct  knowl- 
edge is  the  very  foundation  stone.  Combined  with  her 
exceptional  loyalty  to  her  friends  it  is  the  solid  basis  on 
which  some  of  the  most  enduring  friendships  of  her  life 
still  rest  unbroken,  after  forty  to  fifty  years'  duration.  It 
is  sometimes  asserted  that  a  lasting  and  disinterested  friend- 
ship cannot  exist  between  women,  but  her  oldest  and  most 
faithful  friends  comprise  quite  as  many  women  as  men. 

With  all  her  literary  ability  and  varied  authorship,  the 
doctor  frequently  compares  herself  to  Senator  Conkling, 
who  never  could  learn  to  spell  even  common  words.  Orthog- 
raphy has  always  been  her  bugbear,  but  she  strives  stead- 
ily to  master  it. 

An  extract  from  a  speech  by  Senator  Mitchell,  in  Port- 
land, Oregon,  in  November,  1904,  is  so  much  to  the  point 
that  it  is  inserted  here : 

"Fellow  Citizens :  Fort3'-four  years  ago  this  month  I 
made  my  first  political  speech  in  this  city  and  state.  That 
was  the  campaign  in  which  the  candidate  of  the  Repub- 
lican party  was  the  greatest  American  that  has  ever  lived 
in  this  country  since  the  days  of  Washington — the  great 
liberator,  Abraham  Lincoln,  of  Illinois.  That  campaign 
resulted  in  his  election,  and  for  four  years  that  great  man 
conducted  the  ship  of  state  through  the  rough  storms  of 
the  civil  war,  which  tested  the  strength  and  durability  of 
every  plank  of  the  grand  old  ship. 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  'J21 

"While  I  never  had  the  [)U;asiirc  of  a  personal  acquaint- 
ance with  Abraham  Lincoln,  I  had  the  honor  of  sitting  in 
the  Senate  for  a  period  of  five  years  beside  that  grand  old 
statesman  who, was  his  running  mate,  Hon.  Hannibal  Ham- 
lin, of  Maine,  and  I  shall  never  cease  to  be  grateful  for 
the  many  kindnesses  shown  me  by  him  during  the  first 
yearg  of  my  service  in  the  Senate.  When  I  first  took  my 
seat  in  the  Senate  I  was  given  a  seat  in  what  was  then 
called  the  'Amen  corner'  of  the  Senate  chamber.  It  was 
on  the  extreme  left  of  the  presiding  officer, — the  seat  now 
occupied  by  my  friend,  Senator  Nelson,  of  Minnesota. 

"But,  before  a  year  had  expired,  by  reason  of  the  death 
of  Senator  Buckingham,  of  Connecticut,  I  was  transferred 
to  a  seat  on  the  main  aisle,  directly  in  front  of  the  presid- 
ing officer, — the  seat  now  occupied  by  Senator  Frye,  when 
he  is  not  presiding.  Senator  Hannibal  Hamlin  sat  immedi- 
ately to  my  right  and  Senator  Conkling  immediately  behind 
me.  When  I  went  over  to  take  my  seat  Senator  Hamlin  took 
me  cordially  by  the  hand  and  said :  'Mitchell,  I  am  glad 
for  two  reasons  that  you  are  coming  over  here  to  this 
seat.' 

"I  thanked  him  and  told  him  I  would  be  glad  to  know 
the  reasons   he  had   for  wishing  me   over   there. 

"  'Well,'  he  said,  'In  the  first  place,  I  think  I  will  like 
you  for  a  neighbor,  and,  in  the  second  place,  you  must 
from  this   time  on   do   Conkling's   spelHng   for  him.' 

"I  did  not  know  what  he  meant,  and  on  inquiry  he  said : 

"'Why,  Conkling  can't  spell  two  words  right;  I  have 
been  doing  his  spelling  for  him  for  the  last  number  of 
years ;  I  understand  you  are  a  good  speller,  and  you  must 
do  it  from  this  on,  as  you  are  a  young  man.' 

"I  was  very  much  astonished  and  puzzled  by  this  state- 
ment, but  it  is  safe  to  say  that  in  the  five  years  I  occupied 
that  seat  Senator  Conkling  asked  me  how  to  spell  at  least 
five  hundred  words. 


332  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

"Senator  Conkling  was  a  man  who  worte  a  great  deal 
at  his  desk  when  not  engaged  in  debate. 

"One  day  he  leaned  over  and  inquired  of  me  how  to 
spell  wagon.  I  told  him  I  should  spell  it  'w-a-g-o-n.' 

"He  then  said : 

"  'I  shall  immediately  proceed  to  strike  out  one  "g." ' 

"On  another  occasion  he  asked  me  how  to  spell  'Czar.' 
I  inquired  if  he  meant  the  Czar  of  Russia,  and  he  said 
'Yes.' 

"  'Well/  I  said,  'generally  it  is  spelled  "Czar,"  and  some- 
times "Tsar."' 

"He  then  said : 

"  'I  shall  at  once  proceed  to  prefix  a  "C."  ' 

"He  had  spelled  it  'Z-a-r.' 

"Now,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  I  must  not  be  understood 
as  contending  that  because  Senator  Conkling  was  not  a 
good  speller  that  that  is  any  reason  why  Mr.  Parker  should 
not  be  elected  President,  or  even  a  reason  why  our  candi- 
date should  be.  I  only  thought  that  before  proceeding  to 
the  task  before  me  it  might  be  interesting  for  some  of  you 
to  know  that  it  sometimes  so  happens  that  some  of  our 
greatest  statesmen  are  deficient  in  some  of  the  simplest  and 
most  elementary  principles  of  an  education." 

SCHOOL    CERTIFICATE. 

Astoria,  Ore.,  March,  1863. 
I  hereby  certify  that  Bethenia  Owens  is  of  good  moral 
character,  and  has  passed  an  examination  in  the  follow- 
ing branches,  with  the  following  result: 

Orthography    1 

Reading 1 

Writing 1 

English  Grammar 1 

Mental  Arithmetic 1 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  323 

Written  Arithmetic 1 

Algebra  2 

Modern  History 2 

Teaching 2 

This  certificate  is  good  for  one  quarter. 

Cyrus  Olney^ 
Supt.  Com.  Schools. 
Astoria,  Ore.,  May  1,  1864. 

A  few  of  the  doctor's  early  letters  to  her  son. 

San  Francisco,  Cal.,  Feb.  7,  1868. 
My  Darling  Son — ^After  waiting  a  long  time  for  a  letter 
from  you  I  can  wait  no  longer.  Why  have  you  not  written 
to  your  mamma  before,  dear  ?  It  has  been  about  four  weeks 
since  I  received  a  letter  from  my  little  boy;  but  I  hope  I 
shall  get  one  tomorrow.  Mary  tells  me  you  are  getting  along 
very  nicely  with  your  studies.  Oh,  how  glad  I  am  to  hear 
of  your  success,  darling!  Only  study  hard,  and  you  shall 
have  every  advantage.  I  know  I  shall  be  able  to  give  you 
an  accomplished  education,  and  perhaps  more ;  and  all  the 
reward  I  ask  is  to  see  you  a  great  and  noble  man.  I  know 
you  will  not  disappoint  your  mother.  I  have  too  much 
confidence  in  my  darling  boy  to  ever  think  of  such  a  thing. 
Georgie,  I  have  a  grand  scheme  in  view  for  you,  and  if  I 
succeed  your  fortune  will  be  easily  made.  But  I  cannot 
tell  you  what  it  is  now,  dear.  Wait  till  I  come  home.  Now 
I  will  tell  you  something  of  what  I  have  seen  in  the  city. 
Well,  the  other  day  I  went  out  to  see  the  city  gardens ;  but, 
for  fear  you  will  not  know  what  I  mean  by  that,  I  will  tell 
you.  There  are  ten  or  twenty  acres  fenced  in  with  a  high- 
wall  fence.  We  pay  25  cents  to  get  in,  then  we  are  at  lib- 
erty to  go  all  over  the  grounds  and  see  all  there  is  to  be 
seen,  which  is  a  great  deal,  I  can  tell  you.  There  are  two 
large  towers  where  you  can  go  up  and  see  all  over  the  city. 


S34  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

There  are  beautiful  summer-houses,  and  all  kinds  of  flowers 
and  trees ;  four  or  five  fountains,  filled  with  all  kinds  of 
fishes,  a  nice  little  lake,  and  fancy  boats  for  ladies  and 
gentlemen,  and  boys  and  girls  to  ride  in  when  they  like; 
all  kinds  of  swings,  where  you  may  swing  as  much  as 
you  please.  Then  we  come  to  the  place  where  they  keep 
innumerable  animals  and  birds.  Oh,  how  I  wished  you 
were  here  when  we  came  to  the  cages  of  animals.  I  wish 
I  could  tell  you  all  about  them,  but  I  cannot,  it  would  take 
me  too  long.  There  are  all  species  of  bears,  a  monster 
grizzly  bear,  all  sorts  and  sizes  of  monkeys,  in  fact,  all 
the  animals  you  could  think  of.  But  I  must  tell  you  about 
one  large  cage  we  saw  called  the  "Happy  Family."  When 
I  looked  in,  there  lay,  in  one  corner,  the  biggest  hog  I 
ever  saw,  and  a  coon  curled  up  on  top  of  his  back;  a  skunk 
curled  up  in  another  corner,  a  coyote  and  a  wolf  walk- 
ing backward  and  forward,  while  a  monkey  was  hang- 
ing on  the  bars,  and  two  or  three  chickens  and  a  badger 
picking  around  on  the  floor.  Pussy  sat  up  on  a  shelf, 
looking  down  very  quietly,  while  a  little  black  dog  went 
strutting  about  and  seemed  to  be  king  of  the  household. 
'  But,  never  mind,  darling,  when  you  come  down  to  school 
you  shall  go  out  and  see  all.  So  now,  good-bye,  darling; 
write  to  me  soon.     From  your  affectionate  mother, 

■     B.  A.  Owens. 

This  was  written  while  I  was  learning  the  millinery  trade, 
after  which  money  was  more  easily  earned. 

Roseburg,  Ore.,  Nov.  13,  1870. 
My  Dear  George — ^I  received  yours  of  the  7th  inst.,  yes- 
terday, and  am  sorry  to  say  have  been  feeling  very  un- 
happy since.  Do  you  ask  why?  Iwill  tell  you.  Since  your 
father  has  been  to  see  you,  and  you  have  been  going  to 
the  city  every  week,  you  have  been  neglecting  not  only  me, 
but  many  things  you  ought  strictly  to  attend  to.     In  the 


SoiMii  OK  Hku  Lifi',  ExpitftiENCES.  325 

fii'st  place,  all  your  letters  have  been  short,  writteil  in  a 
hurry,  and  always  closed  by  saying  you  have  not  time  to 
write.  Now,  how  .can  I  feel  over  this,  George ?  Am  I 
not  toiling  hard  to  make  you  a  great  man,  and  is  this  the 
way'  for  you  to  repay  me?  Do  you  know  why  you  have  no 
time  to  write  longer  letters  to  your  mother?  I  will  tell 
you,  George.  It  is  because  you  go  to  the  city  every  Satur- 
day and  do  not  get  home  till  Sunday  night,  or  Monday 
morning.  You  have  not  told  me  this,  but  I  well  know 
it  is  so;  and  by  so  doing  you  miss  your  church  and  Sun- 
day school.  Is  this  right  ?  Do  you  not  know  that  it  is  your 
duty  to  go  to  church  and  Sunday  school ;  And  then  I  al- 
ways knew  that  between  three  and  four  o'clock,  you  were 
writing  to  nie,  which  was  a  greiat  pleasure,  indeed,  to  know 
that  at  least  one  hour  in  the  week  your  thoughts  were  given 
entirely  to  your  mother,  and  home.  But,  how  is  it  now? 
When  three  o'clock  comes,  I  think:  Where  is  my  child,  and 
what  is  he  doing?    And  it  makes  me  very  unhappy,  indeed. 

Now,  George,  I  do  not  wish  to  deprive  your  father  of 
your  society,  but  I  do  not  wish  you  to  neglect  me,  nor 
the  privilege  you  now  have  of  improving  your  mind,  your 
morals,  and  your  manners,  and  you  cannot  attend  to  all 
these  and  spend  two  days  out  of  the  week  in  the  city. 

Now,  what  I  wish  to  say  is  this :  If  your  father  wishes 
your  society  and  desires  to  have  you  with  him  one  day 
out  of  the  week,  I  have  no  objection,  so  he  goes  after 
you  on  Friday  evening  and  you  return  on  Saturday  even- 
ing; and  then,  if  he  wishes  to  be  with  you  on  Sunday,  he 
must  go  to  Oakland  and  go  to  church  and  Sunday  school 
with  you,  for  you  must  not  remain  in  the  city  on  Sunday; 
I  forbid  it ;  and  I  know  you  have  too  much  sense, — also 
too  much  respect  for  your  mother,  to  disobey  me.  I  have 
perfect  confidence  in  }ou,  and  I  know  you  love  me  too 
niuch  to  make  me  unhappy.  Another  thing:  I  was  very 
much  hurt  to  have  you  ask  me  to  burn  my  letters.     Why 


326  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

should  you  wish  to  destroy  your  mother's  letters,  my  child? 
Have  you  not  a  trunk  with  a  lock  and  key  to  it?  Can  you 
not  put  all  your  little  things  in  it  and  lock  them  up?  I 
wish  you  to  keep  your  things  in  neatness  and  order  in 
your  trunk;  also,  number  all  your  letters,  tie  them  all  up 
neatly  in  packages,  and  lay  them  carefully  away.  This  will 
be  nice  employment  for  you  on  Sunday, — to  put  your  things 
all  in  order,  and  never  leave  them  in  confusion.  And  when 
you  write,  tell  me  what  books  you  are  reading ;  how  you  are 
getting  along  in  your  studies ;  how  many  years  you  think 
it  will  be  before  you  can  be  admitted  into  the  university, 
and  write  me  long  letters. 

Winter  has  set  in  here,  and  the  streets  are  very  muddy. 
Jake  has  to  bring  his  beef  into  town  in  a  cart. 

The  courthouse  is  done  and  fenced  in  and  looks  very 
nice. 

Now,   dear,   I  must   say  good-bye,   and   may  God  bless 
my  darling,  is  the  prayer  of  your  affectionate 

Mother. 

P.  S. — You  can  tell  your  father  what  I  have  said  about 
your  going  to  the  city. 

Roseburg,  Ore.,  Nov.  23,  1870. 
My  Dear  George — I  hardly  know  how  to  begin  this  let- 
ter, I  am  so  uneasy  about  you.  I  have  had  no  letter  from 
you  for  two  weeks,  and,  though  you  were  well  when  you 
last  wrote,  still  I  fear  something  must  have  happened  to 
you.  Two  nights  ago  I  dreamed  of  seeing  you  drowned. 
Night  before  last  I  dreamed  I  saw  you  killed  by  a  snake, 
and  last  night  I  thought  I  saw  you  in  such  low  company, 
with  a  big,  long  pipe  in  your  mouth.  Oh,  I  felt  so  bad, 
and  I  thought  I  begged  you,  for  my  sake,  never  to  put  a 
pipe  in  your  mouth  again,  but  you  acted  stubborn,  and 
seemed  to  think  it  was   so  manly  to  do  as  you  pleased. 


Some  of  Her  Lite  Experiences.  327 

But  at  last  I  thought  you  said:  "I  can't  promise  to  quit, 
but  I  will  promise  to  try." 

You  know,  dear,  I  do  not  believe  in  dreams,  and  I  am 
thankful  I  do  not,  for  I  sliould  then  be  more  unhappy  than 
I  am.  I  am  so  anxious  about  you  that  when  I  sleep  you 
are  in  my  mind,  and  I  am  sure  to  dream  something  hor- 
rible. Asher  has  not  received  an  answer  to  his  last  letter, 
either,  and  he  thinks  you  have  forgotten  him. 

November  24. 
My  Darling  Boy — Allie  Brown  came  yesterday  while  I 
was  writing,  and  I  was  so  busy  all  day  and  till  ten  o'clock 
at  night,  that  I  could  not  get  a  moment  to  finish  this. 
But,  thanks  to  a  kind  Providence,  your  precious  letter 
reached  me  this  morning,  and  drove  away  all  my  unhappi- 
ness.  I  was  so  uneasy  and  excited  last  night  that  I  decided 
to  telegraph  today,  if  I  did  not  get  a  letter  this  morning, 
but  it  came,  and  my  gloomy  feelings,  since  I  know  my 
darling  boy  is  well  and  loves  his  mother  too  well  to  make 
her  unhappy.  You  will  never  regret,  my  darling,  sacri- 
ficing that  little  pleasure  for  your  mother.  I  know  it  is  a 
sacrifice,  and  I  know,  too,  that  it  is  for  your  own  good,  as 
you  will  say  yourself  after  awhile.  I  fear  you  have  not 
enough  bed-cover  to  keep  you  warm.  If  you  still  need 
more,  go  to  the  teacher  and  tell  him  to  get  you  a  pair  of 
blankets  and  charge  them  to  me.  I  sent  a  hundred  dollar 
greenback  to  Mr.  Geo.  Tait  to  pay  your  school  bill,  which 
is  $85.50.  I  told  him  to  give  you  what  is  left  for  your 
own  use.  Well,  dear,  company  has  come  in,  and  Asher 
is  waiting. to  post  this,  so  now,  my  precious  darling,  good 
night,  with  many  kisses  from  your  affectionate 

Mother. 


328  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

Roseburg,  Ore.,  Nov.  27,  1870. 
My  Dear  George — Your  welcome  letter  of  the  20th  inst, 
reached  me  yesterday.  You  do  not  know  how  much  pleas- 
ure it  affords  me  to  hear  from  you,  and  to  know  you  are 
happy  and  progressing  so  fast.  I  have  never  been  so 
happy  in  all  my  life  as  now,  and  all  because  I  have  got 
such  a  good  and  dutiful  son,  who  is  willing  to  do  anything 
his  mother  asks  of  him,  and  I  know  my  darling  will  never 
regret  obeying  his  mother,  for  what  more,  my  child,  have 
I  to  live  for  but  you?  Without  you  my  life  would  be  a 
burden.  I  am  anxiously  looking  forward  to  the  time 
when  you  will  have  finished  your  education  and  we  can 
travel  and  see  the  world  together.  I  know  it  must  be 
pleasant  down  there.  We  have  had  but  little  rain  this 
fall,  but  the  hills  are  looking  green,  and  the  roads  are 
muddy.  Christmas  will  soon  be  here,  and  then  I  shall 
begin  to  count  the  days  and  weeks  till  I  can  start  to  see 
you.  You  would  hardly  know  Roseburg  now,  it  is  so 
much  improved.  Dr.  Hoover  has  built  a  drug  store  facing 
on  Main  street,  and  the  Plaindealer  an  office,  also.  Frink's 
have  painted  and  fitted  up  their  dwelling  house,  and  have 
been  trying  very  hard  to  make  that  the  main,  or  princi- 
pal, street.  They  have  built  two  bridges  out  this  side, 
and  beyond  the  church,  so  the  travel  would  come  that  way. 
So  the  property  holders  on  this  street  have  built  a  fine 
bridge  up  the  other  sides  of  Barnes',  and  put  a  nice  rail- 
ing on  it,  and  cut  down  the  large  tree  in  front  of  Joe 
Stevens',  and  have  graveled  the  street  nearly  all  the  way 
from  my  house  to  the  new  bridge.  So  you  see  we  do 
not  have  much  mud  on  our  street.  They  have  moved 
the  old  courthouse  back  of  Swan's  old  house.  I  can  see 
it  as  I  sii  by  the  fire  and  write  to  you.  I  have  had  the 
walk  made  narrow  in  the  back  yard,  and  put  in  new  plank, 
and  the  garden  covered  all  over,  about  a  foot  deep,  with 
manure.     It  looks  splendid,  and  I  guess  it  will  pay  me  for 


Some  of  IIi:k  Li  if,  Experiences,  329 

the  trouble.  I  wish  you  were  here  to  see  how  nice  it 
looks.  I'>nt  when  I  come  down  I  will  tell  you  all  about  it. 
Did  I  tell  \<)ii  that  Annie  and  Alice  Kent  have  opened  a 
millinery  store  in  Jacksonville?  They  bought  all  their 
goods  from  me — $300  worth.  They  are  doing  very  well. 
I  have  a  splendid  business  this  fall ;  if  I  had  not,  it  would 
have  gone  pretty  hard  with  me,  for  Mrs.  Ralls  ran  the 
Oakland  business  in  debt  $200.  But  I  must  close,  dear, 
as  it  is  time  to  get  ready  for  Sunday  school.  So  good-bye, 
darling,  with  many  kisses  from  Mamma. 

Roseburg,  Ore.,  Dec.  3,  1870. 

My  Dear  Georgie — Your  welcome  letter  of  the  27th  ult. 
reached  me  yesterday.  It  is  such  a  relief  to  hear  from 
you,  and  to  know  }ou  are  well  and  happy.  You  are  very 
anxious  to  know  just  when  I  will  start.  I  cannot  tell  you, 
exactly,  now,  but  I  think  not  before  the  last  of  February 
or  the  1st  of  March,  as  I  wish  to  be  in  the  city  the  last 
of  March  to  get  the  latest  spring  styles.  I  am  so  anxious 
to  see  you  and  clasp  you  in  my  arms  and  kiss  your  pre- 
cious lips ;  but  I  must  not  neglect  my  business,  for  that 
would  be  neglecting  you.  and  that  I  shall  never  do.  And, 
as  success  depends  upon  strict  application,  I  shall  not  leave 
one  stone  unturned,  for  I  am  determined  to  make  my  busi- 
ness here  pay. 

I  saw,  a  few  days  ago,  that  girls  were  going  to  be  ad- 
mitted into  the  university.  Is  it  true?  I  hope  it  may  be,  for 
I  do  not  think  the  society  of  girls  is  any  detriment  to  boys. 
I  think  it  always  has  a  tendency  to  refine  and  improve  their 
morals.  I  should  always  rather  you  would  associate  with 
refined,  intelligent  girls  than  ordinary  boys,  for  I  am  sure 
you  would  gain  more  high  principles  and  fine  feelings  from 
them.  We  have  not  had  any  cold  weather  this  winter  yet, 
but  considerable  rain,  and  the  roads  are  very  muddy.  The 
stages   are   running   on   long   time   now.      I   cannot   think 


330  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

of  an  item  of  news  worth  writing,  everything  is  so  dull 
here.  So  I  will  say  good-bye  to  my  darling  for  a  few 
days,  when  I  will  write  again.  Mamma. 

Roseburg,  Ore.,  Dec.  12,  1870. 

My  Dear  George — It  has  been  more  than  a  week  since  I 
had  a  letter  from  you,  and  I  fear  it  will  be  a  week  more 
before  I  hear,  for  they  say  the  snow  is  ten  feet  deep  on 
Scott's  mountain,  and  the  stages  have  not  been  able  to  get 
over  for  several  days.  It  rained  perfect  torrents  nearly  all 
last  week.  They  decided  to  have  a  Christmas  tree  yes- 
terday. How  I  wish  you  could  be  here  on  Christmas  eve. 
I  know  there  will  be  no  stocking  hung  up  by  little  hands 
here,  and  no  sweet  voice  to  greet  my  ears  with  "Merry 
Christmas !"  But  I  hope  my  boy  will  be  happy,  and  rest 
assured  that  I  will  think  and  speak  of  my  bright,  black- 
eyed  boy  many  times.  Everybody  asks  of  you  often. 

But  I  must  say  good-bye,  darling.  I  hope  to  see  you 
soon.  Mamma. 

Roseburg,  Ore.,  Dec.  26,  1870. 
My  Dear  George — Christmas  has  passed,  and  New  Years 
will  soon  be  here.  I  hope  you  were  happy  and  did  not  feel 
lonely  among  strangers.  I  was  not  very  happy,  for  it 
made  me  feel  sad  to  see  all  the  children  getting  presents 
and  my  darling  not  here.  And  as  I  thought,  "Perhaps  he 
is  feeling  lonely  and  forgotten,"  the  tears  forced  their  way 
into  my  eyes,  and  I  wept  for  my  own  darling  boy.  But 
I  hope  the  time  will  soon  be  here  when  I  can  be  with  you 
a  few  weeks,  or  days,  at  least.  I  sent  you  five  dollars  in 
a  letter,  just  a  week  ago,  for  a  Christmas  present.  I  hope 
it  reached  you  in  time.  Now  I  suppose  you  would  like 
to  know  what  I  got  for  Christmas  presents.  Well,  a  large, 
handsomely-bound  volume  of  Shakespeare's  works,  a  dress, 
a  handkerchief,  a  handsome  bead  basket,  and  a  beautiful 
cushion  for  the  bureau. 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  331 

We  had  about  ten  days  of  extremely  cold  weather,  hut 
the  day  before  Christmas  it  rained  all  night,  and  is  very 
warm  now.  I  did  very  well  before  Christmas,  but  I  ex- 
pect it  will  be  dull  now,  as  there  seems  to  be  so  little 
money  in  the  country. 

But  now,  dear,  I  must  close,  so  as  to  get  this  in  the 
mail.  I  wish  you  a  Happy  New  Year,  and  I  hope  I  may 
hear  that  you  are  happy.     So  good-bye,  darling. 

To  George,  from  his  affectionate  Mother. 

Boston,  Mass.,  May  18,  1874. 

My  Dear  George — I  have  been  waiting  in  vain  for  three 
weeks  for  a  letter  from  you.  I  have  had  only  one  from 
you  since  T  left  home.  I  expect  you  will  be  surprised  to 
see  I  am  in  Boston,  but  I  believe  I  wrote  you  that  I  thought 
of  coming  here  to  stay  till  the  fall  term  of  college  com- 
mences, which  will  be  in  October. 

Well,  I  came  here  the  first  day  of  May  and  rented  an 
office,  advertised,  and  prepared  for  business.  I  begin  to 
think  the  angels  must  have  sent  me  here,  for  the  next  day 
after  I  advertised  I  got  two  patients,  and  they  have  been 
coming  ever  since.  I  have  made  ninety-five  dollars  and 
fifty  cents,  enough  to  pay  all  my  expenses  and  get  all  my 
instruments  and  quite  a  little  stock  of  medicine.  Now,  my 
darling,  what  do  you  think  of  that  for  your  mamma  ?  They 
think  here  that  I  am  an  old  practitioner  from  the  Pacific 
Coast,  and  that,  for  off-hand,  has  a  great  charm  for  people 
over  here.  I  believe  I  shall  do  splendidly ;  but  it  keeps  me 
studying,  I  assure  you,  for  I  study  up  every  case,  so  as  not 
to  forget  it,  which  will  be  of  great  benefit  to  me.  I  do  not 
go  out  to  practice,  but  do  a  strictly  office  business,  so  all 
my  patients  come  to  the  office  to  be  treated.  Oh,  George,  you 
don't  know  how  much  nicer  it  is  than  selling  goods,  and 
working  night  and  day;  and  it  agrees  with  me,  too.  You 
would  hardly  know  me,  I  am  getting  so  fleshy,  and  looking 


332  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

so  much  better.  I  like  Boston  so  much  better  than  T  do 
Philadelphia.  I  know  I  shall  not  like  to  go  back.  How 
often  I  think  of  you,  and  wish  3'ou  were  here  with  me. 
It  seems  I  am  always  looking  for  you  in  every  boy  I  see. 
There  are  about  one  hundred  boys  in  military  dress  who 
parade  by  here  on  the  Common  twice  a  week.  When  I  hear 
the  drum  I  run  to  the  window  and  wish  I  could  see  my 
own  dear  boy  among  them.  I  think  this  is  one  of  the  best 
cities  in  the  United  States  for  a  Avoman  doctor,  as  there 
are  about  forty  thousand  more  women  than  men  here,  and 
they  are  mostly  working  women,  thousands  of  whom  are 
afflicted,  and  the  major  part  of  them  seem  to  prefer  a  woman 
doctor. 

Well,  darling,  another  patient,  so  I  must  attend, to  her, 
and  ask  you  to  excuse  me  for  awhile. 

She  is  gone,  and  I  will  proceed.  Poor  girl,  she  has  been 
doctoring  for  more  than  a  year,  without  relief,  and  seeing 
my  advertisement  as  coming  from  the  Pacific  Coast,  she 
came  to  me.  I  understand  her  case,  and  feel  confident  I 
can  cure  her.  She  says  if  I  can  she  can  bring  me  four 
more  new  patients.  I  am  well  pleased  with  Boston.  The 
people  here  seem  to  occupy  a  higher  and  broader  plane  than 
any  I  have  seen. 

My  darling,  write  to  me  often.  I  send  you  some  of  my 
cards.  Mother. 

STORY  OF  GEORGE. 
1870. 

Dr.  Adair,  then  Mrs.  Owens,  lived  at  one  time  near  where 
a  house  had  been  burned.  Nothing  remained  of  the  place 
but  the  cellar,  which  was  half  filled  with  dry  rubbish. 

The  neighborhood  children  played  about  and  in  it,  and 
one  day  they  wantonly  set  it  on  fire.  In  a  few  moments  the 
excavation  was  a   seething  caldron   of  flame.     About  that 


Some  of  Hek  T.ife  Experiences.  33.T 

time  a  boy  two  or  three  times  as  larg-c  as  little  George  Piill 
got  into  a  fij^ht  with  him  and  tried  to  throw  him  into  the 
fire;  but  George,  who  was  a  wiry,  plucky  little  fellow,  and 
active  as  a  cat,  succeeded  in  whipping  the  big  fellow,  finally 
tripping  and  throwing  him  down,  but  the  big  bully  fell  on 
top.  Driven  to  extremity,  little  George  seized  his  antag- 
onist's head  by  the  hair  with  both  hands,  and,  holding  it 
down,  bit  his  face  and  nose  severely.  The  other  boys,  will- 
ing to  see  fair  play,  then  turned  them  over,  so  the  little 
boy  was  on  top,  where  he  punished  the  big  bully  till  he 
howled  for  mercy,  and  the  boys  parted  the  combatants. 

George  had  on  a  long  linen  duster,  and  it  and  his  face 
were  covered  with  blood,  making  him  a  frightful  looking 
object,  though  he  was  in  no  way  injured.  Catching  sight 
of  his  mother's  terrified  face,  as  she  saw  him  approaching, 
apparently  half  killed,  he  considerately  called  loudly  to  her: 
"I'm  not  hurt,  mother!  I'm  not  hurt!"  thus  relieving  her 
worst  fears  before  she  could  have  time  to  assure  herself 
of  the  fact  by  actual  examination.  Young  as  he  was,  he 
felt  that  he  wished  to  spare  his  mother  every  possible  min- 
ute of  such  agonizing  anxiety,  thus  showing  unusual  sym- 
pathy for  a  boy-child. 

REMINISCENCES  OF  DR.  ADAIR  AND  HER  MOTHER^  MRS.  THOMAS 

OWENS. 

1904. 

I  spent  some  time  last  month  with  my  mother,  Mrs. 
Thomas  Owens,  pioneer  of  1843,  at  Seaside,  Oregon's 
great  summer  resort. 

My  mother  is  nearing  her  87th  mile-stone.  We  were  in 
the  )"ard  one  morning  as  the  sun  came  up  in  all  his  glory. 
My  mother  said :  "This  reminds  me  of  what  I  have  not 
thought  of  for  years.  You  and  I  had  been  riding  all  night 
in  the  stage,  and  the  sun  came  up,  just  like  this,  and  the 


334  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

driver  asked  you  to  sing  a  song.  You  sang  'My  Sailor  Boy,' 
and  I  thought  I  never  heard  you  sing  anything  so  well ;  and 
when  you  sang  the  chorus,  'Toral,  lal,  lal;  toral,  lal,  lay,' 
the  whole  woods  seemed  to  be  full  of  echoes.  The  driver 
and  passengers  cheered  and  cheered  you.  Don't  you  re- 
member it?" 

No,  I  could  not  recall  one  word  of  it.  She  said : 
"Well,  that  is  strange!  It  has  been  forty  or  forty-five 
years  ago,  but  I  can  remember  the  first  song  I  ever  learned. 
It  was  composed  by  a  preacher  on  his  death-bed,  and  his 
wife  used  to  sing  it.  My  father  was  good  to  her,  and  when- 
ever she  came  to  our  house  he  would  ask  her  to  sing  that 
song,  and  that's  the  way  I  learned  it.  That  was  about 
eighty  years  ago !"  My  mother  had  a  remarkable  memory, 
in  her  youth,  and,  even  now,  it  is  good  for  recent  dates,  con- 
sidering her  age.  In  pioneer  days  singing  was  much  in 
vogue.  My  mother  had  a  sweet,  soft  voice,  and  could  sing 
love  songs  by  the  hour.  I  will  here  give  "My  Sailor  Boy" 
for  the  benefit  of  pioneer  men  and  women,  who,  like  myself, 
forty-five  years  ago,  were  full  to  overflowing  with  love  and 
sentiment,  which  was  ever  ready  to  burst  forth  in  song  when 
opportunity  offered.  And  for  temperance  people  I  will  add 
a  popular  temperance  song  of  fifty  years  ago,  "The  Brandy 
Seller,"  to  the  tune  of  "Old  Dan  Tucker" : 

MY   SAILOR  BOY. 

The  morning  stars  are  shining  still ; 
The  daylight  peeps  o'er  the  eastern  hill ; 
There  is  not  a  bird  so  happy  as  I, 
When  the  sailor  boy,  my  love,  is  nigh. 

CHORUS. 

Toral,  lal,  lal,  toral,  lal,  lay. 
Toral,  lal,  lal,  toral,  lal,  lay. 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  885 

The  sailor  boy  and  his  early  bride 
Lay  sleeping  by  the  roaring  tide ; 
We  must  part  at  the  dawning  of  the  day; 
The  proud  ship  bears  my  loved  love  away. 
(Chorus.) 

Scarce  six  months  since  we  were  wed. 
Oh,  how  swift  the  time  has  fled! 
We  must  part  at  the  dawning  of  the  day; 
The  proud  ship  bears  my  loved  love  away. 
(Chorus.) 

The  sailor  boy  comes  home  no  more 
To  his  weeping  bride,  on  the  ocean  shore. 
The  ship  went  down  in  the  howling  of  the  storm; 
The  blue  waves  roll  o'er  his  manly  form. 
(Chorus.) 

Long  years  have  passed ;  he  comes  no  more 
To  his  weeping  bride,  on  the  lonely  shore. 
"My  soul  to  God,  my  body  in  the  sea; 
The  big  blue  waves  will  roll  over  me." 
(Chorus.) 

the  brandy  seller. 

(Tune,  "Old  Dan  Tucker.") 

Of  all  the  crimes  that  ever  have  been. 
The  selling  of  liquor  is  the  greatest  sin. 
It's  caused  more  misery,  pain  and  woe. 
Than  any  other  crime  I  know. 

CHORUS. 

Get  out  of  the  w^ay,  you  brandy  seller. 
You've  ruined  manv  a  noble  fellow. 


'336  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

•  You've  taken  shoes  from  women's  feet, 
And  bread  which  children  need  to  eat; 
You've  robbed  them  of  their  winter  clothes, 
And  left  them  naked,  and  most  froze. 

(Chorus.) 

You've  caused  the  children  bitter  cries ; 
And  tears  to  stream  from  mothers'  eyes. 
You've  caused  some  children  to  cry  for  bread, 
And  as  they  were  hungry,  sent  to  bed. 
(Chorus.) 

You've  caused  the  father  to  hate  the  child; 
That  almost  set  the  mother  wild ; 

•  'And  in  his  drunken  sprees  at  night. 

He's  oft-times  put  them  all  to  flight. 
(Chorus.) 

You've  robbed  the  strong  man  of  his  strength; 
And  brought  him  down  in  mud,  full-length; 
And  left  him  there  to  swear  and  roll, 
As  though  he  had  no  soul. 

(Chorus.) 

You've  robbed  the  rich  man  of  his  wealth; 
You've  robbed  the  poor  man  of  his  health ; 
You've  picked  the  pockets  of  the  poor, 
And  sent  them  to  beg  from  door  to  door. 
(Chorus.) 

You've  robbed  the  statesman  of  his  brains ; 
And  filled  his  head  with  aches  and  pains ; 
He's  been,  oft-times,  in  the  gutter  found. 
Feeling  upward  for  the  ground. 
(Chorus.) 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  337 

You've  crowned  sonic  mighty  kinj^s  with  mud ; 
And   stained   some   palaces   with   blood. 
You've,  brought  ■  some  sightly  cities  low; 
And  proved   some  nations'  overthrow. 
(Chorus.) 

And  now   I  tell  you  plain!}-,  sir,. 

In  your  career  you've  gone  too  far. 

You've  led  so  many  men  astray, 

You  must  account  on  the  Judgment  Day. 

CHORU.S. 

Get  out  of  the  way,  you  brandy  seller ; 
You've  ruined  many  a  clever  fellow. 

The  following  is  the  first  song  my  mother,  Mrs.  Thomas 
Owens,  ever  learned.  She  was  about  seven  years  old  at 
the  time,  which  was  over  eighty  years  ago.  She  recalled 
it  for  me,  verse  for  verse,  in  July,  1904.  The  song  was 
composed  by  a  minister  on  his  dying  bed,  and  his  wife, 
from  whom  my  mother  learned  it,  used  often  to  sing  it. 

The  time  is  swiftly  rolling  on 

When  I  must  faint  and  die ; 
My  body  to  the  dust  return, 

And  there,   forgotten,   lie. 

Let  persecution  rage  around, 

I'll   unto   Christ  appear. 
My  silent  dust  beneath  the  ground 

Shall  no  disturbance  hear. 

Through  cold  and  heat  I   oft-times  went 
Through  many  a  dangerous  place, 
To  call  on  sinners  to  repent 
And  seek  their  Savior's  face. 


338  Dr.  Owens -Adair. 

Here  is  my  wife,  my  tender  wife, 

My  only  bosom  love ; 
The  time  was  sweet  with  you  I've  spent, 

My  gentle,  harmless  dove. 

Here  are  my  babes,  so  near  my  heart, 

Kind  Nature  seems  to  bind; 
It  grieves  my  spirit  to  depart 

And  leave  them  all  behind. 

Oh,  Lord,  a  father  to  them  be, 

And  let  them  be  Thine  own. 
So  they  may  learn  to  worship  Thee, 

When  they  are  left  alone. 

You  oftentimes  have  looked  for  me, 
And  oftentimes  seen  me  come; 

But  now  I  must  depart  from  you 
To  my  eternal  home. 

Don't   let   this   grieve   your   heart,   my   love, 
Don't  let  this  grieve  your  heart. 

You'll  quickly  come  to  me,  my  love, 
Where  we  shall  never  part. 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  339 


CHAPTER  XXVH. 

MISS  BARTON  RETIRED. 
1904. 

(Extract  from  The  Daily  Oregonian.) 

"The  National  Red  Cross  Society  is  at  last  to  be  re- 
organized, with  Miss  Barton  left  out.  This  is  not  as  harsh 
a  measure  as  it  appears.  An  efficient  factor  in  the  work 
of  the  society  for  many  years,  she  is  no  longer  able,  for  rea- 
sons not  one  of  which  reflects  discredit  upon  her,  to  longer 
manage  the  business  affairs  of  a  great  organization.  She 
has  reached  the  limit  of  usefulness ;  the  limit  fixed  by 
nature.  She  is  no  longer  young;  is  feeble  in  health,  and 
frail  in  body. 

"Miss  Barton  is  said  to  be  a  broken-hearted  woman,  chaf- 
ing in  her  age  against  what  she  conceives  to  be  the  ingrati- 
tude of  those  who  insisted  on  her  retirement  from  the  presi- 
dency of  the  Red  Cross  Society." 

Such  cases  as  this  of  Miss  Barton  certainly  evoke  pity, 
but  it  is  a  sort  of  pity  from  which  self-respecting  pride 
recoils. 

If  we  must  retire,  let  it  be  from  choice,  and  not  under 
compulsion.  The  wise  few  learn  this  from  keen  observa- 
tion and  voluntarily  step  aside  from  the  midst  of  the 
stirring  scenes  of  their  arduous  and  worthy  labors  and 
successes,  before  their  work  begins  to  show  signs  of  the 
inevitable  effects  of  advancing  age,  instead  of  waiting  until 
they  are  crowded  out  by  those  younger  and  more  active, 
and  more  modern  in  their  methods.  And  even  when,  as 
in  the  case  of  Dr.  Adair,  the  health  is  not  impaired  and  the 
individual  has  kept  abreast  of  the  age  in  advanced  ideas, 


340  Dr.  Ow.ens  -  Adair. 

the  enthusiasm  and  ambition  of  youth,  which  nothing  else 
can  replace,  is  gone,  or  going,  and  it  is,  as  she  says,  the 
part  of  wisdom  to  recognize  this  and  bow  gracefully  to 
the  unchangeable  law  of  Nature. 

For  it  is  far  better  to  leave  one's  bright  public  record 
unmarred  by  later  deteriorated  work.  I  say  "public  record," 
because  the  retiring  from  public  life  by  no  means  neces- 
sitates relinquishing  active  endeavor  in  some  pursuit,  and 
many  years  of  this  may,  and  should,  remain. 

It  is  decidedly  pleasanter,  as  Dr.  Adair  further  remarks, 
to  be  sought  out  in  voluntary  retirement  and  to  find  your 
services  still  in  urgent  request  by  the  public,  which  is  still 
loth  to  "lose"  you,  than  to  hold  on  and  on,  feeling  your- 
self gradually  but  surely  set  aside  in  spite  of  your  best 
efforts,  and  be  subjected  to  ill-natured  criticism  by  young 
upstarts  who  know  far  less  than  you  do. 

Some  seem  unconscious  of  their  failing  mental  powers^ 
while  acknowledging  and  taking  pleasure  in  describing 
their  physical  disabilities.  But  the  trained  mind  of  a  pro- 
fessional man  or  woman  ought  not  to  be  so  dull  or  blind 
as  to  fail  to  notice  in  itself  what  is  so  obvious  to  it  and  to 
all  in  others. 

Such,  if  not  too  blinded  by  self-esteem,  perceive  even  be- 
fore others  discover  it  the  first  indications  of  their  own  de- 
cadence, and  prepare  to  shape  their  remaining  years  in 
accordance. 

It  need  not  cause  unhappiness  to  themselves  or  others. 
The  transition  can  be  so  gracefully  and  gradually  made  as 
to  be  only  pleasantly  perceptible.  We  all  know  a  few  de- 
lightful and  lovable  old  people,  whose  lives  are  a  comfort 
and  a  blessing  to  all  about  them,  and  we  can  make  them 
and  their  lovely,  unselfish  characters  ours,  by  God's  help, 
if  we  will. 


SOMK    ()!• 'I  li:i<    l>IIK    ICXI-I'IKIKNCES.  31] 

October,  1905. 

In  pursuance  of  the  above  views,  Dr.  Adair  has  retired 
from  an  active  and  lucrative  practice,  in  her  sixty-sixth 
year,  with  the  purpose  of  dcvotinj^  the  remainder  of  her 
life  to  literary  pursuits,  free  from  the  weighty  sense  of  re- 
sponsibility attendint;-  the  knowlcdi^e  that  life  and  death 
are  constantly  de])cndin_q'  on  one,  which  is  the  inevitable 
accompaniment  of  the  conscientious  practice  of  medicine, 
even  more  than  of  any  other  profession. 

CENTENNIAL      CELEBRATION      OF      THE      DISCOVERY      OF      THE 
COLUMBIA  RIVER. 

The  celebration,  on  May  11,  13,  and  13,  1893,  of  the 
one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  discovery  of  the  third 
largest  river  in  the  world  by  Captain  Robert  Gray  was  fitly 
held  in  Astoria  (the  second  city  in  size  in  the  state,  though 
the  first  in  point  of  establishment),  situated  at  the  mouth 
of  that  noble  and  historic  stream. 

Its  citizens  rose  with  just  pride  to  the  occasion,  and  pre- 
pared to  receive  and  entertain  with  due  honor  the  distin- 
guished guests  they  had  invited  from  far  and  near.  Pro- 
fessor John  Fiske,  of  Boston,  Captain  Gray's  home  city, 
who  had  consented  to  deliver  the  centennial  address,  was 
the  first  guest  of  honor,  but  there  were  many  other  emi- 
nent persons  present.  The  managing  committee  appoint- 
ed a  committee  of  prominent  ladies  of  Astoria  and  vicinity 
to  assist  them  in  entertaining  and  to  take  charge  of  the 
great  banquet,  which  was  to  be  one  of  the  principal  fea- 
tures. 

Citizens  threw  open  the  doors  of  their  homes  and  w'armly 
welcomed  friends  and  strangers  to  their  hospitality.  Rou- 
tine business  was  for  the  time  laid  aside,  while  all  Astoria 
gave  itself  heartily  to  the  entertainment  of  its  guests. 

The  battleships  Baltimore  and  Charleston  were  in  at- 
tendance, and  as  such  warships  were  not  so  common  with 


342  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair.  • 

us  then  as  now  they  were  the  "cynosure  of  all  eyes."  Gaily 
decorated  with  bunting,  they  were  constantly  crowded  with 
delighted  visitors,  who  were  received  with  unremitting  po- 
liteness and  patience  by  their  officers  and  men,  who  kindly 
and  pleasantly  answered  the  questions  of  the  thronging 
groups  of  eager  people. 

At  night  the  scene  was  even  more  beautiful  and  brilliant 
under  the  strong,  swiftly-moving  searchlights — the  first 
ever  seen  in  that  vicinity — with  the  countless  lesser  lights 
gleaming  on  every  other  craft. 

One  unique  feature  was  a  night  race  between  the  fishing 
boats,  several  hundred  of  which  took  part  in  it,  everyone 
bearing  a  bright  light  at  its  masthead.  The  long,  sinuous 
procession  on  the  soft,  dark  stretch  of  water  looked  like  a 
great,  waving,  swaying  chain  of  glittering  jewels,  and  was 
indeed  a  charming  spectacle. 

The  ladies  took  an  active  part  in  their  departments.  Dr. 
Adair  was  first  appointed  chairman  of  the  ladies'  manag- 
ing committee,  but  as  she  did  not  reside  in  the  city,  she  de- 
clined in  favor  of  Mrs.  Samuel  Elmore,  and  took  the  chair- 
manship of  the  committee  on  serving  and  preparing  the 
grand  public  banquet.  This  banquet  proved  to  be  the  un- 
qualified success  that  was  assured  when  Dr.  Adair  took 
command,  as  she  always  makes  a  success  of  whatever  busi- 
ness she  undertakes ;  and  no  one  better  understands,  not 
only  what  to  provide  for  a  large  banquet,  but  how  to  mar- 
shal the  forces  necessary  to  bring  it  successfully  to  pass — • 
as  the  sequel  proved,  for  the  guests  universally  declared 
that  never  had  they  sat  down  to  a  finer  dinner. 

Dr.  Adair  first  called  together  the  ladies,  whom  she  had 
carefully  selected,  and  notified  of  their  appointment  as  her 
assistants  on  the  banquet  committee.  vVt  this  meeting  she 
outlined  the  work  and  appointed  sub-committees  on  each 
separate  department,  with  all  necessary  instructions  and 
powers,  and,  inspired  by  her  own  enthusiasm  and  energy, 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  343 

they  all  went  to  work  with  a  will  to  carry  out  her  orders, 
and  did  their  part  so  well  under  the  efficient  chief  that  the 
guests  who  sat  down,  five  hundred  at  a  time,  at  the  long, 
snow-white,  flower-decked  tables  in  the  immense,  hand- 
somely decorated  hall,  vied  with  each  other  in  praise  of  the 
appetizing  result. 

Dr.  Adair  and  her  adjutants  had  decided  that  as  Astoria 
is  a  fishing  town,  all  kinds  of  fish  and  curstaceans,  must  be 
served.  The  ladies  to  have  charge  of  the  five  tables,  one 
to  each,  were  chosen  by  lot,  that  there  might  be  no  sus- 
picion of  partiality,  and  these  ladies  chose  their  young 
lady  assitants,  who  were  thoroughly  drilled  in  their  duties 
beforehand. 

At  each  end  of  the  long  tables  was  served  an  immense 
Royal  Chinook  salmon,  smoking  hot  from  the  oven,  ac- 
companied b}'^  hot  creamed  potatoes  and  all  the  appropriate 
accessories.  The  various  canneries  contributed  these 
salmon,  which  weighed  from  sixty  to  eighty  pounds  each, 
and  as  no  range-ovens  or  pans  large  enough  to  contain 
them  were  to  be  had,  roasting  pans  were  made  to  order,  and 
the  salmon  were  roasted  in  baker's  ovens,  and  from  thence 
taken  directly  to  the  tables  and  served  in  the  pans  in  which 
they  were  cooked. 

It  is  a  literal  fact  that  no  fish  on  earth  compares  in  de- 
licious 'flavor  and  richness  (to  say  nothing  of  size)  with 
the  salmon,  and  the  Chinook  salmon  are  as  far  beyond  all 
other  salmon,  as  they  are  beyond  all  other  fish. 

These  royal  specimens  of  the  king  of  fish  were  done  to 
a  turn,  and  many  were  the  ecstatic  encomiums  showered 
upon  them  by  the  guests  from  abroad.  Other  fish,  shell-fish 
of  all  varieties,  including  oysters,  clams,  and  crabs,  in  their 
native  shells,  with  every  other  dainty  of  the  season  and 
vicinity,  appeared  on  that  bountifully-furnished  board,  the 
bivalves,  especially,  prepared  in  such  delicious  ways  as  the 
dwellers  contiguous  to  their  native  home  best  understand, 


844  .  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

and  rarely  is  seen  assembled  so  rare,  so  happy  and  well  sat- 
isfied  a  company  of  diners  as  partook  of  them. 

The  sturdy  pioneers  were  there,  attended  by  the  younger 
generation,  who  delighted  to  do  them  honor.  Stories  and 
reminiscences  were  recounted,  and  experience  compared 
with  experience  by  the  white-haired,  but  still  active  and 
genial,  founders  of  this  wonderful  Northwest.  The  entire 
celebratign  was  most  successfully  carried  out,  and  has  been 
the  means  of  fixing  one  of  the  most  important  events  in 
our  history  more  clearl}'-  and  firmly  in  the  minds  and  mem- 
ories of  the  rising  generation,  and  of  adding  cheer  and 
honor  and  pleasure  to  the  last  days  of  the  revered  pioneers, 
whose  work,  begun  and  long  carried  on  in  toil  and  hard- 
ship, is  ending,  even  in  their  own  day,  in  peace,  plenty  and 
renown. 

POEM  ON  THE  FIRST  TRIP  OF  THE  A.   &   C.   R.   R.   TO  PORTLAND. 

Astoria,  Ore.,  May,  1898. 

This  day  we'll  take  a  backward  glance 
To  contemplate  the  great  advance 
Which  has  been  made  in  every  line 
Since  white  men   came,   in   forty-nine. 

Upon  this  very  ground  once  stood 
The  Indian,  with  his  dusky  brood. 
He  hunted  elk  among  these  hills ; 
He  fished  for  trout  a-down  these  rills. 

Instead  of  steamboats,  as  today. 
His  light  canoe  sailed  on  this  bay. 
His   wigwam   smoke  we   see  no  more ; 
He  has  passed  away  to  the  other  shore. 

The  Pioneer  of  early  days 
Deserves  our  love,  deserves  our  praise. 
He  steered  the  bark  across  the  main; 
He  brought  the  wagon  o'er  the  plain. 


Some  of  Hkk  Lifk  JCxi-kkfences.  345 

He  took  a  claim,  and  made  a  clearing 
Where  seldom  neighbor  was  in  hearing. 
He  built  the  cabin,  ploughed  the  field. 
And  iiKidc  the  earth  her  fruits  to  yield. 

When  Uncle  Sam  gave  each  a  section, 
He  thought  he'd  struck  it  to  perfection. 
Instead  of  little  clearings,  now 
We  see  broad  acres  for  the  plow. 

Instead  of  cabins  cheap  and  small, 
There  now   are    dwellings,   large   and   tall. 
Anon,  the  towns  began  to  grow, 
Although,  at  first,  most  awful  slow. 

A  store  and  inn  you  first  would  see; 
And  saloons,  maybe  two  or  three; — 
Pity  such  things  should  ever  be — 

But  soon  a  church  would  there  appear, 
And  then  a  schoolhouse  somewhere  near. 
They  said,   "Our   children  must  have  learning. 
While  we  our  bread  and  clothes  are  earning." 

The  mill  and  shop  all  came,  in  time; 
And  prison  walls,  to  cover  crime. 
As,  step  by  step,  these  things  have  come, 
The  pioneers  are,  one  by  one. 

Dropping  aside,  to  give  place 
To  some'  newcomer  in  the  race. 
We  honor  those  who  yet  are  here. 
And  for  the  dead  we  shed  a  tear. 

S.  T.  McKEANi^vr 


346  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

roosevelt. 
He  is  ours :  With  reverent  love  and  pride  we  claim  him ; 

God  made  him  for  us,  and  to  us  He  gave 
This  manliest  of  all  the  manly  men  who  name  him 

Braver  than  any  brave. 

The  waves  of  mad  Ambition,  and  Greed  of  gold,  supplanted, 
Surge  round  him ; — dash  against  him,   shock  on  shock ! 

Steadfast  he  stands,   unswerving  and  undaunted, 
On   Duty's  moveless   rock. 

Above  the  clash,  and  clamor,  and  contention 
That  vex  our  ears,  and  louder,  far,  than  all, 

The  rasping  tones  of  malice,  and  dissension, 
We  hear  his  clarion  call. 

He  speaks !  and  "  'Tis  such  sense"  our  sense  with  his  is 
mated ; 

They  meet,  and  mingle,  and  the  two  are  one. 
We  feel  our  deepest,  holiest  wishes  consummated, 

When  his  sane  will  is  done. 

"We  must  be  men,  decent.  God-fearing,  honest; 

No  more,  no  less,  will  manhood's  measure  fill." 
We  feel  the  master-spirit  move  upon  us 

With  deep,  responsive  thrill ! 

The  wondering  nations  gaze,  with  quickened  vision, 
On  him,  who,  'neath  the  Western  flag,  unfurled, 

Faces,  with  fearless  front,  and  calm  decision, 
A  vexed,  tumultuous  world. 

Let  them   look,   and  lean   and  listen,   and  learn  the  lofty 
lesson 
Our  mighty  "man  of  valor"  lives,  in  thought,  and  word 
and  deed. 
While  the   scorned   "Commercial  Spirit"   stretches  out  both 
hands  in  blessing 
Filled  full  with  help  and  hope,  for  all  who  need. 

We  stand  by  him !    We  will  not  have  another, — 

A  strange  hand,  on  the  helm,  for  woe,  and  not  for  weal. 

Millions  are  calling,  brother  unto  brother, 
"He  must  not  leave  the  wheel!" 

Inez  E.  Parker. 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  347 


CHAPTER  XXVHI. 

NOMINATION   OF  THE  FIRST   WOMAN   COUNTY   SCHOOL  SUPER- 
INTENDENT   IN    OREGON,    IN    MULTNOMAH    COUNTY. 

("Oregonian.") 

"There  was  silence  for  a  minute  or  two,  when  this  order 
of  business  was  announced.  Teal  whispered  to  a  friend  near 
him,  'Who  is  a  good  woman  for  the  office?'  'Miss  Sabin; 
smartest  teacher  in  town  (Portland)  ;  ought  to  be  city 
superintendent.'  Teal  then  placed  in  nomination  Miss  Ella 
C.  Sabin,  principal  of  the  North  School.  O'Hara  asked 
whether  the  election  of  a  woman  to  the  office  would  be  legal, 
and  if  so,  he  would  be  glad  to  work  and  vote  for  the  lady. 
Fenton  was  called  upon  to  answer.  He  stated  that  he  was 
present  in  Judge  Deady's  office  several  days  ago,  when  Mrs. 
Dr.  Owens-Adair  called  and  propounded  the  same  question. 
Without  reflection,  several  lawyers  present  were  of  the  opin- 
ion that  a  woman  could  not  hold  the  office,  because  she 
was  not  an  elector.  Continued  Mr.  Fenton :  'The  question 
has  never  been  passed  upon  by  the  courts,  but  if  Miss  Sabin 
will  allow  us  we  will  elect  her  and  Gault  will  not  contest 
it.  If  he  does  I  will  volunteer  my  services  to  defend  our 
candidate's  title  to  the  office.'     (Applause.) 

"O'Hara  asked :  'Is  Miss  Sabin  a  Democrat  ?' 

"Teal  responded  that  he  was  not  able  to  say,  but  he 
could  say  she  was  a  remarkably  bright  educator,  and  was 
possessed  of  splendid  executive  ability,  and  that  was  suffi- 
cient to  entitle  her  to  the  honor. 

"Miss  Sabin  was  nominated  by  acclamation,  amid  gen- 
uine applause." 


348  Dr.  t)wENS- Adai^'  ^:"   '^ 

OFFICE   LIFE. 

1882  and  1905. 

The  ofBce  life  of  a  physician  is,  from  one  point  of  view, 
a  series  of  stories,  sad,  dramatic,  amusing, — sometimes  all 
three  in  one, — and  their  graphic  recital  would,  in  itself, 
make  an   interesting  volume. 

This  is  especially  so  in  the  case  of  Dr.  Adair,  with  her 
strong"  convictions  and  antipathies  and  vigorous  expression 
of  the  same. 

.  One  day  in  1882  she  had  just  dismissed  a  patient  at  the 
outer  door  of  her  consulting  room  and  passed  through  the 
inner  door  to  her  office,  where  she  found  a  number  of  pa- 
tients, in  waiting,  besides  two  young  men  with  bills  to  col- 
lect, one  of  whom  was  Mr.  Willis  Duniway,  with  a  bill 
for  advertising.  He  sat  quietly  awaiting  his  turn,  while  the 
other  stood  puffing  a  cigar^  and,  without  removing  it  from 
his    mouth,    he    pompously   announced : 

'T  have  a  bill  to  collect." 

Before  replying  Dr.  Owens  threw  a  window  wide  open, 
and  then,   turning  toward  him,   commanded  incisively : 

"Take  that  cigar  out  of  your  mouth.  I  do  not  allow 
smoking  in  my  reception-room.  Do  you  not  see  that  there 
are  ladies  present?" 

The  fellow  hastily  threw  his  cigar  out  of  the  window,  and, 
in  a  more  subdued  tone,  repeated  that  he  had  a  "bill  to 
collect." 

"Well,"  said  the  doctor,  "you  can  come  in  tomorrow  and 
collect  it." 

The  young  man  departed,  and  she  then  turned  to  Mr. 
Duniway,  whose  refined,  gentlemanly  manner  was  in  re- 
freshing contrast  to  the  boorish  behavior  of  the  other  col- 
lector, and  said  pleasantly : 

"Mr.  Duniway,  have  you  a  bill?" 

"Yes,  madam,  for  advertising,"  he  replied,  and  she  con- 
tinued : 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  840 

■'  '"I   shall   take  pleasure   in   paying  you   now,"   which   she 
proceeded  to  do. 

She  always  paid  her  bills  promptly  at  the  first  of  every 
month,  and  only  deferred  settling  with  the  first  collector 
to  more  thoroughly  impress  upon  him  a  badly  needed  les- 
son in  deportment. 

-The  patients   in  the  office  were  all   smiling,  jjlcased  to 
observe  the  difference  in  the  behavior  of  the  two  men,  and 
the  special  treatment  each  received  from  the  doctor. 
'A  ring  at  the  door.     Enter  a  stranger. 

"Madam,  I  want  to  show  you  a  fine  line  of  toy  balloons 
I  am  selling." 

Dr.  Adair:     "I  have  no  use  for  toy  balloons;  if  you  will 
go  down  street  to  Dr.  Hill's  office,  you  may  sell  him  one. 
He  is  my  baby.     He  is  only  forty-nine  years  old." 
,    Exit  toy-balloon  man,  in  a  dazed  condition. 

CORRESPONDENCE. 

Tn  the  course  of  her  long,  active,  and  varied  experience, 
Dr.  Adair  has  enjoyed  the  close  friendship  of  many  promi- 
nent persons,  some  of  whose  letters  are  of  public,  as  well 
pis  private,  interest,  and  are  worthy  of  permanent  preser- 
vation,— and  really  form  a  part  of  her  life-history.  They 
are,  therefore,  incorporated  in  this  volume,  together  with 
such  of  her  own  replies  as  seemed  relevant  and  character- 
istic. 

LETTER  FROM    HON.   TILMON   FORD. 

Salem,  Ore.,  Oct.  29,  A.  D.  ISrS. 
Mrs.  B.  A.  Owens,  W.  C.  T.,  Roseburg  Lodge,  L  O.  of  G.  T. 

Dear  Friend  and  Sister — I  promised  to  write  to  you  last 
Friday,  but  have  been  unexpectedly  and  unavoidably  so  very 
busy  that  I  positively  have  not  had  time  to  do  so  until  now. 

Yours  in  regard  to  commission  is  also  duly  at  hand. 
Your  secretary  was  ri^ht  in   sending"  the  recommendation 


350  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

to  Bro.  James  A.  Smith,  G.  Sec,  as  I  have  signed  com- 
missions in  blank,  and  placed  them  in  his  hands,  with  in- 
structions to  fill  them  out  in  accordance  with  recommenda- 
tions from  subordinate  lodges.  I  did  this  so  that  our  Grand 
Secretary  would  be  placed  in  direct  communication  with 
all  Lodge  Deputies  in  the  state. 

I  am  well  pleased  to  learn  that  Flem.  is  now  Bro.  Owens, 
and  that  he  is  to  be  your  Lodge  Deputy.  I  have  just  writ- 
ten to  the  G.  W.  Sec.  to  send  forward  the  commission  im- 
mediately, and  if  he  has  not  already  done  so,  it  will  reach 
you  by  Friday  evening.  Your  Lodge  Deputy  lives  at 
Oakland,  or  at  least  I  found  him  there  when  I  was  out  in 
August. 

It  would  be  well  to  extend  him  an  invitation  to  be  pres- 
ent at  your  installation  ceremonies.  I  would  like  to  com- 
ply with  your  very  kind  invitation  and  be  present  myself,- 
but  business  prevents. 

Our  circuit  court  meets  here  next  month,  and  I  am  inter- 
ested as  attorney  in  several  cases  that  will  require  my  per- 
sonal attention,  from  now  on,  till  it  adjourns. 

Shall  start  on  a  visiting  tour  to  the  respective  lodges 
along  the  line  of  the  railroad  about  the  last  of  November 
or  the  first  of  December,  and  shall  probably  be  at  your  lodge 
by  the  middle  of  December,  and  I  shall  expect  (judging 
from  your  letter)  to  find  it  in  a  very  prosperous  condition. 
Now,  don't  let  me  be  disappointed  in  this  regard.  Am  truly 
sorry  to  hear  that  Bro.  S. —  has  gone  back  to  his  cups  again. 
I  had  hopes  that  he  would  stand  firm  in  the  great  temperance 
reform.-  Please  write  me  the  particulars  of  his  case.  Also 
give  me  a  full  account  of  3'our  public  installation,  and  the 
continued  prosperity  of  your  noble  little  lodge,  which  I  as- 
sure you  will  be  read  with  interest  by  me. 

With  best  wishes  for  the  success  of  your  public  installa- 
tion and  the  continued  prosperity  of  your  noble  little  lodge, 
I  am  yours  in  F.  H.  and  C.,  Tilmon  Ford. 

P.  S. — I  sent  you  two  constitutions ;  did  you  receive  them  ? 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  351 

early  history  of  oregon. 

Rev.  J.  L.  Parrish,  who  is  familiar  with  the  early  history 
of  Oregon,  sends  the  following  for  publication : 

The  first  white  child  born  in  Oregon  was  the  son  of 
the  late  Jason  Lee,  superintendent  of  the  Oregon  Methodist 
Mission — born  in  June,  1838. 

The  second  white  child  born  in  the  Willamette  Valley 
was  the  son  of  the  late  Alanson  Beers, — born  in  September, 
1838. 

The  third  white  child  born  in  the  Willamette  Valley,  was 
the  son  of  the  late  Dr.  E.  White, — born  in  1838. 

The  fourth  white  child  born  in  the  Willamette  Valley 
was  the  daughter  of  the  late  Silas  Shepherd, — born  in  1838. 

The  fifth  white  child  born  in  the  Willamette  Valley  was 
the  daughter  of  the  late  David  Leslie,  at  what  is  now  the 
town  of  Wheatland,  in  Yamhill  County.  She  is  now  liv- 
ing in  Salem. 

The  sixth  white  child  born  in  the  Willamette  Valley  was 
the  daughter  of  the  late  Dr.  E.  White,— born  in  1839. 

The  seventh  white  child  born  in  the  Willamette  Valley 
was  a  daughter  of  the  late  Hamilton  Campbell — 1840. 

The  eighth  white  child  born  in  the  Willamette  Valley 
was  a  daughter  of  the  late  Rev.  Leslie,  at  Wheatland,  Yam- 
hill County— August,  1840. 

The  ninth  white  child  born  in  the  Willamette  Valley  was 
a  daughter  of  the  late  Rev.  Jason  Lee,  of  the  Oregon  Mis- 
sion— February,  1841.  She  is  now  the  wife  of  Prof.  F. 
Grubbs. 

My  reason  for  penning  the  above  is  the  mistake  in  your 
notice  of  the  death  of  our  excellent  and  worthy  friend,  Mrs. 
Crawford,  in  the  Oregonian  of  the  23d  inst.,  as  to  her  being 
the  mother  of  the  first  white  child  born  in  Yamhill  County. 
You  will  observe  from  the  above  that  Mr.  Leslie  had  two 
daughters  born  at  what  is  now  called  Wheatland,  in  Yam- 
hill County,  before  Mrs.  Crawford  was  in  Oregon.  Mr. 
Leslie  and  his  wife  were  from  Massachusetts. 


352  Dr.  Owens -Adair. 

mrs.  michell,  the  clatsop. 

Portland,  Ore.,  March  6. 
To  the  Editor : 

In  an  editorial  in  the  Oregonian  of  February  27  last  you 
refer  to  the  age  of  Mrs.  Michell,  a  Clatsop  Indian  woman, 
"The  last  of  the  Clatsops,"  who  lives  near  Seaside,  and 
whose  age  is  said  to  be  103  years.  Her  name  is  not  Michell. 
Her  Indian  name  is  Tsin-is-tum.  Her  mother's  name  was 
Wah-ne-ask. 

When  Tsin-is-tum  came  to  a  marriageable  age  she  mar- 
ried Wah-tat-kum,  who  died  in  1860.  Later  on  she  married 
one  Michell  Martineau,  a  Canadian-Frenchman.  Wah-tat- 
kum,  her  first  husband,  was  the  last  chief  of  the  Nehalem 
tribe.  Her  last  husband  was  always  spoken  of  and  called 
"Mi-chell,"  so  she  is  called  Mrs.  Michell.  Her  "Boston" 
name  is  Jennie — Jennie  Michell. 

It  is  a  singular  fact  that  the  Pacific  Coast  Indians  never 
have  but  one  name,  and  that  name  is  never  handed  down 
from  "the-  father  or  mother  to  the  offspring,  but  ceases  to 
exist  when  its  owner  dies.  Each  Indian  was  given  his 
particular  name,  which  had  no  relation  or  resemblance  to 
that  of  either  his  father  or  mother.  Among  the  Indians 
it  was  considered  improper,  or  irreverent,  to  ever  mention 
the  names  of  the  dead. 

You  were  quite  right  in  doubting  that  she  had  reached  the 
age  of  103  years.  In  May,  1900,  I  went  with  a  committee 
of  the  Oregon  Historical  Society,  to  Fort  Clatsop,  Lewis 
and  Clark's  headquarters  in  1805  and  1806,  to  show  therri 
its  location.  From  there  we  went  to  Clatsop  beach,  to  see 
the  location  of  their  salt  works,  which  had  then  been  re- 
cently discovered. 

We  had  Mrs.  M'ichell  brought  there  to  identify  the  place. 
In  a  conversation  between  the  late  L.  B.  Cox,  one  of  the 
committee,  and  Mrs.  Michell  (the  late  Silas  B.  Smith  act- 
ing as  interpreter),  Mrs.  Michell  identified  the  place,  which 


Some  of  Her  Iaie  Experiences.  353 

licr  mother  liad  often  shown  her  as  the  place  where  Lewis 
anrl  Clark  made  salt.  Her  nKJthcr  knew  Lewis  and  Clark, 
and  had  seen  their  men  at  work  there. 

In  the  same  eonversation  slie  said  she  remembered  when 
Dr.  MeLoui^lilin  l)ombarded  the  Indian  village  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Colnmhia  River,  in  1829,  saying  that  she  was  only 
a  liUle  girl,  and  that  her  father  was  killed  in  that  bom- 
bardment. If  she  was  nine  years  old  in  1829,  she  would 
now  be  83  years  old. 

At  the  time  of  the  conversation  above  referred  to,  Silas 
B.  Smith,  who  was  of  half-Indian  blood,  and  had  known 
her  all  his  life,  said  she  was  about  80  years  old.  If  she 
was  a  "little  girl"  in  1839,  she  could  not  now  possibly  be 
103  years  old. 

Mrs.  Michell,  Sel-i-kee,  and  a  Clatsop  woman  living  at 
Bay  Center,  Wash.,  who  is  a  grand-daughter  of  Twilch, 
an  old  Indian  whom  I  used  to  know,  and  who  remembered 
Lewis  and  Clark,  are  all  of  the  full-blood  Clatsop  Indians 
now  living.  The  tribe  is  practically  extinct.  Few  Indians 
ever  lived  to  be  as  old  as  Tsin-is-tum. 

P.  W.  Gillette. 

GOVERNORS  OF  OREGON. 

Dr.  Adair  was  personally  acquainted  with  fifteen  of  the 
Governors  of  the  State  of  Oregon,  namely : 

Governors  Thurston,  Gaines,  Lane,  Whiteaker,  Curry, 
Slater,  Gibbs,  Woods,  Grover,  Lord,  Thayer,  Chadwick, 
Moody  and  Geer. 

Eight  of  these  Governors,  Gaines,  Lane.  Grover,  Woods, 
Gibbs,  Moody,  Chadwick  and  Thayer,  were  her  warm  per- 
sonal friends. 

Governor  Gaines  had  purchased  a  home  on  Clatsop 
plains  in  her  childhood,  which  her  brother-in-law,  John 
Hobson,  bought  of  him  after  the  sudden  and  shocking  death 
of  INIrs.  Gaines,  on  Julv  4,  1852  or  1853. 


354  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

The  child,  Bethenia  Owens,  was  an  eye  witness  of  the 
fatal  accident. 

Mrs.  Gaines  and  the  Governor  were  on  horseback,  riding 
beside  a  wagon  containing  people  on  the  way  to  the  neigh- 
boring celebration.  In  passing  a  narrow  place  in  the  road 
Mrs.  Gaines  attempted  to  fall  back  and  let  the  wagon  pass 
first,  and  her  horse  backed  in  between  the  heels  of  the 
team  and  the  wagon  to  which  they  were  attached,  and  she 
was  thrown  violently  upon  the  tongue  of  the  wagon.  As 
the  frightened  horses  began  to  run  it  was  several  minutes 
before  she  could  be  extricated,  when  it  was  found  that 
her  skull  was  crushed.  She  was  carried  to  the  nearest 
house;,  where  she  soon  expired  without  regaining  conscious- 
ness. 

Governor  Gaines  was  a  gentleman  of  the  old  school,  pos- 
sessing a  high  sense  of  honor  and  an  estimable  character, 
without  a  stain  upon  his  record.  During  his  administration 
Dr.  Adair  was  but  a  mere  child,  but  she  well  remembers 
his  stately  figure  and  courtly  manners. 

Portland,   Ore.,   July,   1882. 
Mrs.  B.  A.  Owens,  M.  D. 
Portland,  Oregon. 
Dear   Doctor — ^At   the   annual   meeting  of  the   Oregon 
State  Medical  Society,  held  June,  1882,  six  subjects  were 
chosen  for  discussion  at  the  next  annual  meeting. 

It  being  my  duty  to  appoint  one  person  to  each  subject, 
I  wish  to  know  if  you  will  prepare  a  paper  on  retarded 
dentition,  said  article  to  be  prepared,  ready  for  publication, 
by  the  next  annual  meeting. 

The  subject,  author,  together  with  the  day  and  hour 
when  the  paper  will  be  read,  will  appear  upon  a  program 
furnished  to  each  member,  not  less  than  ten  days  before 
the  annual  meeting  in  1883,  as  well  as  in  the  daily  papers 
at  the  time.     As  it  is  expected  these  papers  will  attract 


Some  of  Hkk  Lii'k  Experiences.  355 

much  attention,  it  is  hoped  you  will  be  present  to  read  the 
same.  Please  answer  immediately,  so  that  the  proper  men- 
tion can  1)0  made  in  the  transactions  of  this  year.  Hoping 
you  will  accept  this  honorable  office,  I  remain  respectfully 
yours,  Curtis  C.  Strong, 

President  O.  S.  M.  S. 
225  West  Park  Street,  Portland,  Oregon. 

Astoria,  Ore.,  June  9,  1893. 

My  Dear  Children,  One  and  All — So  today  you  are  on 
the  swift  eastward  express.  I  know  you  are  all  happy, 
and  tl  at  brings  much  satisfaction  to  us.  Colonel  has  just 
left  w'.th  Oscar  for  the  front — Colonel  for  town  and  Oscar 
to  cut  and  trim  for  firewood.  The  opening  is  gradually 
widening.  Monday  and  Tuesday  we  put  in  all  the  turnips 
and  garden  seeds.  Wednesday  forenoon  I  finished  up  be- 
hind the  cottage.  Had  forty  nice  hills  made  just  behind 
the  house,  where  the  ground  was  low ;  set  out  all  the  to- 
matoes, squashes,  cucumbers,  etc.,  as  it  was  drizzling.  In 
the  afternoon  John  and  I  went  with  Colonel  and  Oscar  to 
the  front,  and  they  cut  down  six  or  eight  trees.  Yester- 
day Charlie  and  I  finished  hoeing  the  carrots  on  the  hill, 
so  you  see  we  are  all  well  up  with  our  work,  and  I  intend 
to  keep   it  up,   if  possible. 

The  pioneers  are  to  have  a  picnic  tomorrow,  at  the  end 
of  the  Bay  R.  R.  If  it  is  nice  we  w'ill  go,  so  John  will 
have  a  glimpse  of  the  world. 

We  received  Mattie's  letter  last  night,  and  it  was  a  real 
treat.  Colonel  read  it  Avhile  I  was  getting  supper,  and  then 
re-read  it  after  we  went  to  bed.  We  laughed  over  the 
reference  to  Solie.  "How  like  her,"  I  said.  "It  is  really 
too  foolish  for  anyone  to  take  offense  at,  or  be  angry  with 
anything  she  says  or  does,  she  is  so  silly." 

So  they  were  all  delighted  with  3-our  going,  as  well  as 
with  your  style?     Mattie,  did  you  tell  them  that  3'ou  were 


356  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

to  he  the  lady  correspondent  of  the  Astorian?  Well,  it  is 
drizzling,  as  usual,  and  the  glass  stands  at  1.29.  Not  very 
bright  for  tomorrow's  picnic.  Excuse  pot-hooks,  for  I 
am  writing  with  John  in  my  arms.  Bless  his  little  heart, 
he  sticks  to  his  mamma  like  a  leech,  now  that  we  are  alone. 
He  is  in  love  with  Victor's  little  bed.  He  goes  to  it  at  night, 
when  we  go.  Last  night  we  were  looking  over  letters  from 
the  drawers,  and  I  came  across  that  doll  that  I  intended  to 
exchange.  Oh,  he  was  so  delighted  with  it !  This  morning 
he  came  out  while  we  were  at  breakfast,  and  took  me  by  the 
hand,  and  led  me  to  the  secretary  and  showed  me  to  open 
the  drawer,  saying :  "Dol-la."  He  had  not  forgotten  where 
it  came  from.  So  my  Victor-boy  has  been  a  gentleman? 
What  good  news  for  his  grandma!  We  know  he  can  be  a 
gentleman  if  he  tries,  and  he  will  make  us  all  happy  by  try- 
ing every  day.  I  want  his  new  grandma  and  his  uncles 
and  aunties  to  be  pleased  with  our  boy.  God  bless  his  sweet 
young  life,  is  my  prayer  always.  We  received  a  nice,  long 
letter  from  Mr.  Monroe.  He  is  to  visit  us  the  first  of  July. 
He  and  his  wife  sent  messages  to  Mattie  and  Victor.  Mattie 
forgot  to  put  in  the  clippings,  for  which  I  am  sorry.  We 
can  see  a  little  colt  by  Juno,  but  have  had  no  time  to  go 
down.  Charley  has  just  finished  sweeping  and  washing  the 
floors.  He  is  doing  nicely,  and  is  getting  almost  over  his 
cough  and  is  looking  well. 

LETTER  OF  DR.  ADAIR  TO  JANE  WEEDEN. 

Sunnymead  Farm,  Ore.,  Feb.  9,  1894. 
My  Dear  Friend,  Miss  Weeden^ — We  received  your  kind 
and  beautiful  letter  in  due  course  of  mail.  How  full  of  sen- 
timent and  sympathy  it  was, — just  like  your  own  dear  self. 
We  are  so  glad  to  hear  from  you !  And  the  Millers ;  so 
they  and  their  little  ones  are  in  Chicago?  Had  I  known  it 
I  certain!}^  should  have  gone  to  see  them.  I  cannot  say  how 
sorry  I  was  not  to  have  seen  and  talked  with  you. 


.SOMIC    ()|-    I  Ilk'    Llll',    [VXI'I'.UII'.NCES.  '557 

I  calk'cl  at  llic  VV.  C.  T.  U.  lu-adfiuartcrs  several  times, 
trying  to  fuid  your  whereabouts,  but  could  fnid  no  trace  of 
you.  When  I  met  you  I  was  going  to  lunch  with  an  old 
college  classmate,  formerly  a  Dr.  Henderson,  whom  I  had 
just  met.  How  lit  lie  I  thought  then  that  a  great  sorrow 
was  so  near  mc.  1  had  enjoyed  the  morning  exercises  so 
much,  and  now  that  I  had  found  two  dear  old  friends  I  was 
perfectly  happy,  and  looked  forward  with  such  pleasure  to 
the  literary  feast  that  was  awaiting  me.  For  twelve  years 
I  had  been  hoping  to  be  able  to  attend  a  National  Convention, 
and  now  I  was  there  in  attendance  on  the  greatest 
W.  C.  T.  U.  convention  in  the  world. 

But  you  know  the  rest ;  that  day  of  happiness  only 
was  mine.  The  news  of  dear  Mattie's  death  came,  and  I 
left  for  home  the  next  day. 

What  a  long,  sorrowful  trip  it  was.  And  then  to  meet 
poor,  dear  Colonel  with  our  two  boys,  Victor,  aged  8  years, 
and  John  Adair,  Jr.,  27  months.  Yes,  we  have  two  beau- 
tiful, bright  boys. 

Mattie  died  after  a  very  brief  illness.  Inflammation  of 
the  bowels,  the  doctor  in  attendance  pronounced  it;  but,  as 
she  had  not  complained  for  over  forty-eight  hours,  I  think 
perhaps  there  was  a  blood-clot.  But  whatever  the  cause 
might  have  been,  it  took  her  away  from  us.  I  have  pre- 
pared a  brief  sketch  of  her  short  life,  which  will  be  pub- 
lished in  the  Oregon  White  Ribboner,  perhaps  this  month. 
When  it  comes  I  will  send  you  a  copy. 

Well,  my  dear  old  friend,  we  are  here  on  the  farm,  some- 
what isolated,  but  not  lonely,  with  plenty  of  reading  matter 
and  plenty  of  work  to  keep  us  busy. 

We  have  several  head  of  horses,  cattle,  sheep,  and  hogs. 
The  young  ones  are  coming  in  all  the  year,  which  requires 
care,  and  gives  us  an  interest  in  life.  Our  boys,  too,  afford 
us  much  pleasure,  as  well  as  care.  We  have  a  comfortable 
home.     How  I  wish  vou  could  come  and  make  me  a  lonsf 


358  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

visit.  The  pure  air  and  fresh  farm  cooking  would  give  you 
a  new  lease  of  life.  I  hardly  think  you  would  recognize 
the  place,  we  have  made  such  a  change.  We  are  surround- 
ed by  flowers  and  beautiful  shrubs.  How  poor  Mattie  did 
love  our  home,  and  she  took  so  much  pleasure  working 
among  the  flowers.  Her  sister  came  down  and  spent  a 
week  with  us  and  we  set  out  many  roots  and  bulbs  on  her 
grave, — flowers  of  her  choice. 

Mattie  and  Victor,  my  grandson,  went  to  the  World's 
Fair  with  Dr.  Hill  and  his  wife.  They  went  the  first  of 
June.  Mattie  was  gone  six  weeks,  and  was  delighted  with 
her  trip.  She  boarded  with  Mrs.  Johnson — our  old  W.  C. 
T.  U.  Mrs.  Johnson — of  Portland.  You  will  remember  her, 
she  used  to  conduct  the  singing. 

This  has  been  a  long,  tedious  winter,  but  we  have  had 
excellent  health.  I  have  not  had  so  much  as  a  cold.  Colonel 
and  the  boys  had  colds  for  a  few  days  only.  We  have  had 
no  cold  weather  as  yet.  Indications  are  for  an  early  spring. 
Do  you  think  of  coming  to  Oregon  again?  How  time 
flies !  I  am  54  years  old.  I  am  strong  and  have  excellent 
health.     I  think  the  country  life  agrees  with  me. 

How  are  the  Millers  succeeding  financially?  I  think 
they  would  have  done  better  in  Oregon.  So  your  head- 
quarters are  in  the  Temple?  What  a  beautiful  structure. 
Mrs.  Hosford  and  I  attended  service  in  "Willard's  Hall," 
and  saw  Mrs.  Carse,  who  had  charge  of  the  meeting. 

Well,  my  dear  friend,  it  is  growing  late,  and  I  must  say 
good  night,  with  kind  regards  to  the  Millers  and  much  love 
for  yourself.    Colonel  joins  me  in  kind  regards.    Remember, 
your  letters  are  always  welcome  visitors. 
Very  sincerely  your  friend. 

Dr.  Owens-Adair, 

My  baby,  John,  is  carrying  the  bag  of  pop-corn  around, 
begging  me  to  pop  some.  You  see,  the  children  are  cele- 
brating my  birthday  with  pop-corn,  raisins  and  candy. 


Some  oi-  IIicu  Liii:  Experiences.  359 

naukow  ksratf,  of  victor  from  drowning. 

While  living'  at  Sunnyniead,  Colonel  and  Dr.  Adair,  with 
their  grandson,  Victor  Hill,  then  between  four  and  five 
years  old,  went  on  one  occasion  to  visit  Professor  Lyman, 
at  his  ranch  at  the  south  end  of  Cullaby  Lake,  Clatsop 
Plains. 

Near  the  western  shore  of  this  lake  is  a  small  island 
named,  like  the  lake,  for  Cullaby,  an  old  Indian  chief  who 
had  lived  upon  it  in  the  days  of  Dr.  Adair's  childhood,  when 
her  parents  lived  not  a  great  distance  from  the  lake.  Fine 
cranberries  grew  on  this  island,  which  she  and  her  mother 
used  to  gather,  and  the  Doctor,  who  had  not  visited  the 
spot  in  years,  desired  to  see  it  once  more.  Mr.  Lyman, 
therefore,  volunteered  to  take  her  and  Victor  in  his  boat 
across  the  lake,  stopping  at  the  island  on  the  way,  while 
Colonel  Adair  went  around  by  the  road  with  the  team, 
and  they  were  to  meet  him  at  the  north  end  of  the  lake, 
which  was  about  two  miles  and  a  half  long.  Mrs.  Stafford, 
a  near  neighbor  of  Mr,  Lyman,  also  accompanied  the  party 
in  the  boat.  The  shores  of  the  lake  are  plentifully  and 
broadly  fringed  with  pond-lilies,  and  seeing  some  particu- 
larly fine  ones  in  one  spot,  A^ictor  begged  to  be  allowed 
to  gather  them,  so  Mr.  Lyman  backed  the  boat  up  within 
reach  of  the  coveted  blossoms.  Dr.  Adair  was  sitting  in 
the  stern,  with  one  arm  around  the  child,  who  leaned  for- 
ward and  grasped  a  lily  firmly  by  its  strong,  thick  stem, 
and  Mr.  Lyman  then  sent  the  boat  forward,  thinking  to  aid  in 
breaking  the  stem,  but  it  was  too  strong,  and  somehow,  in 
the  excitement  of  the  moment,  Victor  fell  out  of  the  boat 
into  the  water.  The  Doctor  screamed  in  terror,  for  the 
impetus  of  the  boat  had  carried  it  some  distance  from  the 
sinking  child,  but  Air.  Lyman  backed  the  boat  toward  him 
as  fast  as  he  could  (being  a  cripple),  and  ]\Irs.  Stafford, 
with  good  judgment  and  admirable  presence  of  mind,  seized 


360  Dr.  Owens -Adair. 

an  oar  and  assisted  ably,  so  that  they  reached  Victor  just 
as  he  was  disappearing,  and  Dr.  Adair  caught  his  clothes 
and  succeeded  in  pulling  him  into  the  boat.  Though  she 
retained  control  of  herself  sufficiently  to  act  promptly  and 
efficiently  at  the  time,  the  Doctor  was  so  unnerved  and  agi- 
tated afterward  that  she  could  not  sleep  for  the  three  nights 
following. 

It  was  some  time  after  this  occurrence  before  they  saw 
Mr.  Lyman  again,  but  the  moment  Victor  set  eyes  on  him, 
as  he  was  approaching  their  house,  he  exclaimed :  "Grandma ' 
Grandma !  Here  is  the  man  coming  that  saved  me.'' 

CuUaby  Lake  is  very  deep  and  the  water  in  it  is  always 
cold.  Besides,  the  place  where  the  child  fell  in  was  full 
of  a  net-work  of  the  tough  roots  and  stems  of  the  pond- 
lilies,  making  it  doubly  dangerous,  as  a  person  sinking  there 
is  almost  sure  to  be  caught  and  so  entangled  as  never  to 
come  to  the  surface  again.  Nothing  but  the  most  prompt 
and  speedy  action  saved  the  life  of  the  child  on  this  occa- 
sion, and  he  never  forgot  the  experience  and  the  manner  of 
his  rescue.  He  was  still  in  dresses,  and  his  skirts  probably 
kept  him  afloat  longer  than  he  would  otherwise  have  re- 
maiued  on  the  surface. 

A  few  years  later  Dr.  A.dair  and  family,  with  Mrs.  But- 
teriield  and  family,  spent  the  day  fishing  in  the  Necanicum 
Creek,  near  the  Seaside  House.  AVhile  preparing,  toward 
night,  to  return  home,  Victor  wished  to  go  back  to  the  bridge 
alone  after  a  certain  beloved  stick  which  had  been  left  be- 
hind. The  Doctor  said,  "No,  you  must  stay  with  Mrs.  Biit- 
terfield  and  her  children  till  we  are  ready  to  start."  A  short 
time  later  she  missed  the  boy,  and  said,  "Where  is  Victor?" 
"Why,"  said  Mrs.  Butterfield,  "he  was  here  just  a  minute 
ago;  he  wanted  to  go  to  the  bridge  (a  high  one),  but  I 
told  him  to  stay  with  the  children  and  not  go  near  the  water." 

Wild  with  apprehension.  Dr.  Adair  rushed  down  to  the 
bridge  and  beheld  Victor,  who  was  now  in  pants,  coming  up 


Some  of  ITf.r  T.rFK  I'^.xi'fkikxcfs.  :u;1 

out  of  the  water  tlirough  the  bushes  hiiint^  tlic  b<'ink  of  the 
creek,  dripping  wet  from  head  to  feet. 

In  spite  of  all  orders  to  the  contrary  he  had  returned  to 
the  bridge  and  tumbled  ofif  it  into  the  middle  of  the  creek  and 
walked  out  on  the  bottom  through  waver  over  his  head! 
Being  exceedingly  active  in  mind  and  body,  and  correspond- 
ingly enterprising,  he  could  disappear  in  a  second,  so  it  was 
imj  ossible  to  keep  him  constantly  in  sight,  and  he  was  al- 
ways having  hair-breadth  escapes.  The  Doctor  declares 
she  sufTered  a  thousand  deaths  in  the  course  of  the  time  he 
was  with  them ;  yet  he  always  seemed  to  bear  a  charmed 
life,  and  always  turned  up  unharmed  and  smiling  at  her, 
to  him,  groundless  fears,  saying:  "What's  the  matter, 
Grandma?  What's  the  matter?  I'm  all  right.  Nothing  is 
the  matter  with  me." 


362  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

AUTHORSHIP. 

Not  only  has  Dr.  Adair  delivered  many  public  addresses 
on  hygienic  and  other  subjects  germane  to  her  profession, 
and  also  most  of  the  living  issues  of  the  day,  but  she  has 
used  her  pen  ably  in  the  same  varied  lines^  her  ari"icles 
rarely,  if  ever,  finding  a  place  in  the  editor's  waste-basket, 
for  the  reason  that  she  always  writes  upon  timely  and  vital 
themes  in  a  vigorous,  trenchant  style,  with  great  earnest- 
ness, and  directly  to  the  point  in  hand. 

Being  unusually  public-spirited,  with  great  pride  in  and 
love  for  her  country,  and  possessing  a  warm  interest  in  the 
individual  as  well  as  the  public  welfare,  combined  with  a 
sound  and  practical  judgment  in  practical  affairs,  what  she 
writes  is  sure  to  be  interesting  reading  to  the  general  pub- 
lic, and  consequently  finds  acceptance  with  the  editor. 

But  for  the  ceaseless  demands  of  a  large  and  successful 
medical  practice  which  has  fully  occupied  her  time  for 
thirty  years  past,  and  the  additional  care  of  a  home  and 
family  during  the  last  twenty  years,  Dr.  Adair  would  doubt- 
less have  written  some  valuable  books  from  her  wide  ex- 
perience, extended  opportunities  for  acquiring  the  latest 
scientific  knowledge,  and  her  own  ripened  judgment. 

Fortunately,  however,  one's  generation  is,  of  the  two, 
often  more  benefited  by  an  earnest,  industrious,  conscien- 
tious and  continuous  practice  of  correct  knowledge  and 
elevating  ideas  than  by  their  written  promulgation.  But 
that  both  have  had  a  worthy  part  in  the  life  of^his  ex- 
ceptional woman  is  conclusively  shown  in  the  productions 
that  follow, 
regular  order  of  their  writing,  from  18T1  onward,  begin- 

They  are  here  presented,  as  nearly  as  practicable,  in  the 
ning  with  Mrs.  Owens'  first  efforts  for  publication: 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  363 

tiif   following  are  the   first  articles   i   evi:'<    wrote 
for  publication. — date,  1870. 

Editor  Pantagraph — I  beg-  leave  to  ask  the  Plaindcaler, 
through  your  columns,  a  few  plain  questions.  Now,  Mr. 
Plaindcaler,  T  am  in  earnest  and  want  a  candid  answer.  I 
am  a  reader  of  your  paper  and  have  been  known  as  a  re- 
liable democrat  all  my  life,  and  I  believe  it  to  be  the  duty 
of  every  voter  to  know  whom  and  what  he  is  supporting, 
and  I  ask  how  you  stand  on  prohibition.  I,  with  hundreds 
of  others,  have  a  right  and  demand  to  know.  Any  politi- 
cian can  see  that  prohibition  is  to  be  the  next  issue,  and 
you  must  be  for  or  against ;  there  is  no  half-way  place 
for  you  to  stand  upon.  The  Pantagraph  has  come  boldly 
to  the  front  and  declared  herself  ready  for  the  fight,  and 
where  are  you,  I  would  ask,  with  your  chivalric  disposi- 
tion? Why  have  you  not  buckled  on  your  armor  "and 
thrown  your  banner  to  the  breeze.  We  have  given  you 
ample  time,  and  now  we  demand  to  know  the  cause  that 
holds  you  bade.  Now  is  the  time  for  you  to  strike  in  order 
to  retain  the  favor  of  those  already  your  friends,  and  gain 
the  respect  of  your  enemies.  You  have  repeatedly  been 
heard  to  say  aou  were  an  enemy  of  rum,  but  you  must  re- 
member the  tree  is  judged  by  the  fruit  is  bears.  Therefore 
I  warn  }ou  that  the  ground  on  which  you  stand  is  shaky. 
Let  us  hear  from  you. 

Editor  Plaindcaler — In  your  issue  of  February  28  you 
said  to  "that  inquisitive  person''  who  asked  you  a  plain 
question  that  you  were  not  averse  to  giving  your  views  on 
prohibition,  providing  the  question  was  asked  by  a  respon- 
sible person,  through  your  own  columns.  Now,  this  is 
where  the  interesting  act  comes  in,  for  "now  you  see''  (in 
the  language  of  General  Lish),  that  knowing  you  to  be  a 
strong  anti-suft'rager,  and  I,  poor  thing,  a  "f-e-m-a-1-e," 
I  knew  you  would  not  consider  me  a  responsible  person, — 


364  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

and  would  quietly  proceed  to  light  3'ou  pipe  with  my  good 
intentions,  and  then  nobody  would  have  ever  known  that 
The  Plaindealer  was  edited  by  a  temperance  man. 

But  why  did  you  not  answer  the  pointed  questions  asked 
by  second  correspondent?  By  the  by,  the  Pantagraph  made 
a  mistake  in  saying  "Glad  to  see  it"  was  written  by  same 
correspondent.  Correspondent  number  two  is  really  a  vot- 
er, Mr.  Plaindealer,  and  to  my  certain  knowledge  has  cast 
his  vote  for  you  more  than  once.  I,  being  a  woman,  and 
like  most  women  having  tasted  the  bitter  fruits  of  intem- 
perance, more  keenly  feel  the  necessity  of  securing  a  strict 
prohibitory  liquor  law  enacted  to  protect  our  fathers,  hus- 
bands, brothers,  and  sons,  who  have  not  within  themselves 
the  power  of  self-protection  against  this  fell  destroyer. 
You,  and  all  others,  know  that  many  of  the  best  and  great- 
est of  our  nation  have  gone  down  to  graves  of  disgrace 
and  degradation  from  the  influence  of  rum.  Then  why  in 
the  name  of  all  that  is  good  and  pure,  in  your  organiza- 
tion, do  you  not  come  forward  and  join  hands  with  the 
temperance  party  in  this  great  struggle  for  life  and  free- 
dom? Why  not  each  week  sweeten  the  dispositions  and 
strengthen  the  doubting  hearts  of  hundreds  of  your  read- 
ers by  a  lively  article  on  temperance  and  prohibition,  which 
you  are  so  capable  of  writing? 

Friends  with  sincere  hearts  would  flock  about  you ;  old 
men  with  whitened  locks  would  give  your  hand  a  hearty 
shake  of  encouragement ;  fond  mothers  would  look  upon 
their  promising  sons  and  with  tearful  eyes  would  rise  up 
and  call  you  blessed. 

Think,  think  well  upon  this  great  subject,  and  let  the 
soft  whisperings  of  conscience  decide  for  you,  is  the  wish 
of  your  "friend  of  temperance." 


SojVIK    (iI-    IIkK    l.IFK    ivXI'KklKNCES.  .'5f!5 

THE  INFLUENCE  OF  A  CORD  OF  WOOD, 
1870. 

Dear  New  Northwest — A  gentleman  of  this  place  some 
months  since  laughed  in  my  face  when  I  asked  him  to  sub- 
scribe for  the  woman  suffrage  paper.  Shortly  afterward  he 
attended  Miss  Anthony's  lecture.  The  next  day  he  met 
me  and  asked  if  we  women  dealt  in  wood ;  if  so,  he  would 
give  a  cord  of  wood  for  a  subscription  to  the  New  North- 
west. I  accepted  the  challenge,  and  before  morning  his 
name  was  on  the  way  to  your  office. 

I  am  happy  to  say  that  he  not  only  receives  the  paper,  but 
reads  it,  and  then,  like  a  true  and  faithful  public  servant, 
reads  it  to  his  neighbors,  that  it  may  make  other  converts. 
This  week  he  surprised  me  by  presenting  a  petition  for  a 
road,  aslcing  me, — a  woman, — to  sign  it.  This  proves  the 
power  of  The  New  Northwest  in  converting  its  readers  to 
the  belief  in  individual  rights.  Three  months  ago  he 
wouldn't  have  thought  of  asking  a  woman's  name  to  such 
a  petition. 

If  all  men  who  now  profess  themselves  opposed  to  the 
movement  would  read  and  investigate,  rather  than  sneer  and 
scorn  it,  the}^  would  let  reason  rule  them,  and  would  speed- 
ily espouse  the  cause  of  justice. 

All  that  we  ask;  all  that  we  entreat,  is  that  our  cause  shall 
be  investigated,  analyzed,  sifted,  and  if  it  be  not  the  true 
metal,  of  solid  principle,  let  it  burn,  like  dross.  The  right 
of  suffrage  is  an  inalienable  right,  withheld  wrongfully 
from  Avoman  by  her  brother,  man.  No  human  being  who 
will  reasonably  and  conscientiously  investigate  this  prin- 
ciple will  fail  to  become  a  convert  to  it. 

The  other  day  a  motherly,  generous-hearted,  pure-mind- 
ed, but  simple,  old  lady  said  to  me :  "You  are  not  in  favor 
of  women  voting,  are  you?''  "Yes,  indeed,  I  am,"  I  said. 
She  raised  her  hands  in  holy  horror.    "Oh,  no.  no,  you  can- 


366  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

not  mean  it!"  "Indeed,"  I  answered,  "there  is  not  another 
principle  in  the  wide  world  I  so  dearly  cherish,  for  there 
is  no  other  power  that  can  be  compared  with  the  power  of 
the  ballot." 

The  good  old  lady  sighed  and  her  eyes  filled  with  tears. 
"Well,  well,"  she  answered,  "I  know  nothing  about  this 
woman's  movement;  but  I  am  bitterly  opposed  to  it." 

If  she  would  only  give  a  cord  of  wood  for  The  New 
Northwest  she  would  soon  learn  better  than  to  be  opposed  to 
truth  and  justice. 

In  conclusion  I  add  that  the  cord  of  wood  which  one  sub- 
scriber in  Roseburg  has  already  given  for  The  New  North- 
west will  prove  worth  its  weight  in  gold  in  making  many 
new  converts,  and  should  any  other  persons  in  this  com- 
munity want  to  pay  their  subscriptions  in  wood  I  am  ready 
to  cash  their  orders. 

CO-EDUCATION. 

(Professor  McLean  was  the  last  of  the  faculty  of  Ann 
Arbor  Medical  University  to  consent  to  receiving  women 
students,  but  as  it  was  a  state  institution  the  faculty  could 
not  entirely  control  the  matter.  When  women  were  admit- 
ted Professor  McLean  positively  refused  to  lecture  before  a 
mixed  class.  Being,  however,  an  eminently  intelligent  and 
broad-minded  man  by  nature  as  well  as  by  attainment,  he 
was  soon  convinced  that  women  were  an  advantage  rather 
than  a  detriment  to  the  school,  and  he  was  magnanimous 
enough  to  frankly  and  publicly  admit  it.) 

A  LETTER  FROM  PROFESSOR  m'lEAN. 

1879. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  Daily  News : 

Sir — As  a  teacher  in  a  school  which  provides  special  facil- 
ities for  female  students,  and  more  especially  as  a  teacher 
in,  and  an  abiding  friend  of,  the  Kingston  Medical  School, 


Some  of  Hkr  Liik  ICxperiences.  '.'>('>7 

I  ask  you  to  grant  me  the  privilege  of  saying,  through  your 
esteemed  cohimns,  a  few  words  to  your  Storrington  corre- 
spondent, who  signs  himself,  "A  Graduate  of  Queen's." 

If  that  correspondent  (who  evidently  considers  himself 
a  gentleman,  a  scholar,  and  a  judge  of  "ladies")  will  divest 
himself  for  a  few  days  of  his  thick  covering  of  conceit  and 
prejudice,  and,  leaving  it  behind  him  in  Storrington,  will 
make  a  pilgrimage  to  this  large  and  respectable  university, 
I  will  confidently  promise  him  that  he  will  hear  and  see  and 
learn  many  things  not  hitherto  dreamed  of  in  his  philos- 
ophy. 

Unless  he  is  farther  gone  in  either  ignorance  or  preju- 
dice than  his  letter  would  indicate  (and  that  is  bad  enough, 
in  all  conscience),  I  believe  that  we  can  send  him  home  to 
his  rural  retreat  wishing,  in  the  bitterness  of  his  remorse, 
that  a  kind  Providence  had  visited  him  with  a  felon  on 
each  finger  of  his  right  hand,  so  that  he  might  have  been 
prevented  from  writing  such  a  libelous  letter. 

If  he  will  only  come  here  I  am  confident  that  we  can  con- 
vince him  that  not  merely  ladies,  but,  what  is  even  better, 
women, — true,  noble-hearted  and  pure-minded  women, — do 
actually  seek,  and  obtain,  admission  to  the  medical  profes- 
sion. 

He  makes  the  broad  statement  that  no  lad}-  seeks  admis- 
sion to  the  medical  profession.  We  will  show  him,  if  he  has 
eyes  to  see,  that  he  might  just  as  well  have  said  that  no 
lady  seeks  admission  to  a  dry  goods  store,  or  a  church. 
Your  correspondent  defies  Professor  Grant  or  any  other 
man  to  point  to  a  single  instance  in  which  the  love  of  the 
study  of  science,  or  the  desire  to  benefit  the  human  race,  has 
been  the  main  object  in  prompting  females  to  study  medi- 
cine, and  he  adds : 

"It  is  simph'  a  morbid  curiosity."  I  accept  this  challenge, 
and  I  say  to  "A  Graduate  of  Queen's,"  come  up  here,  sir, 
and  we  will  make  vou  hide  vour  head  for  xevv  shame  that 


368  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

you  have  allowed  yourself  to  exhibit  so  much  ignorance 
and  unfairness.  Come  here,  my  poor,  benighted  fellow ;  you 
have  been  too  long  confined  to  the  solitudes  of  Storrington; 
come  here  and  see  and  judge  for  yourself.  We  will  admit 
you  to  the  class-rooms,  the  dissecting-rooms,  and  the  hospi- 
tal wards,  where  our  female  students  are  at  work.  We  will 
allow  you  to  converse  with  them,  and  to  observe  them 
closely,  and  when  you  have  done  so  I  am  very  sure  that 
3^ou  will  return  to  your  home  an  humbler  and  a  wiser  man. 
Before  leaving,  however,  we  will  give  you  an  opportunity  of 
studying  the  records  of  former  female  graduates,  from  which 
I  should  hope  and  expect  that  even  you  would  be  able  to 
extract  some  useful  information. 

Then  3^ou  will  assuredly  have  your  ideas  of  ladies  in  gen- 
eral, and  medical  ladies  in  particular,  completely  modified, 
and  I  venture  to  believe,  greatly  elevated  and  purified.  Per- 
haps it  ma}^  not  be  improper  for  me  to  give  you  some  hints 
in  advance  of  what  you  will  find  in  these  archives.  You 
will  fimd,  I  must  admit,  here  and  there  a  record  of  prema- 
ture death  from  overwork.  In  what  sphere  of  woman's 
life  are  such  records  wanting?  You  will  find,  also,  I  must 
admit,  here  and  there  a  record  of  failure  in  the  practical 
work  of  the  profession.  Is  there,  I  ask,  anything  peculiar 
in  this?  On  the  other  hand,  you  will  find  a  record  of  many 
brilliant  examinations  passed  by  female  graduates.  You 
will  find  a  record  of  much  splendid  work  performed  since 
graduation,  in  the  capacity  of  physicians  to  female  prisons 
and  reformatories,  orphans'  homes,  and  female  lunatic 
asylums,  and  in  private  practice;  and,  above  all.  you  will 
find  a  record  of  even  nobler  work  performed  by  graduates 
of  those  schools,  who  have  gone  to  India,  Japan,  China,  and 
elsewhere,  in  the  capacity  of  medical  missionaries,  either 
alone  or  with  their  husbands. 

"All  very  fine,"  you  will  say;  "but  what  of  the  other  side 


SoMli  Ol''    lll.K    Liiic    ICxPliRIKNCrCS.  '.WJ 

of  the  account?    Have  you  no  records  of  such  impurities  as 
I  so  broadly  hinted  at  in  my  decidedly  prurient  letter?" 

I  answer  most  unequivocally:  "No,  sir,  not  a  single  one." 

Two  or  three  intermarriages  have  occurred  between  our 
male  and  female  students  in  the  seven  years  I  have  been  here, 
but  never  a  breath  of  scandal  of  any  kind  has  been  recorded, 
so  far,  in  the  history  of  the  university. 

Your  reference  to  Mary  Walker  would  have  some  price 
if  there  were  no  disreputable  characters  among  male  physi- 
cians ;  as  it  is,  it  only  serves  to  illustrate  the  inherent  weak- 
ness and  absurdity  of  your  position. 

In  conclusion,  sir,  permit  me  to  inform  you  that  "the 
world  moves,"  and  I,  for  one,  am  heartily  rejoiced  to  see 
that  my  old  friends  and  colleagues  of  the  Kingston  school 
propose  to  move  with  it;  and  I  am  very  sure  that  in  so 
good  and  just  and  wise  a  step  as  that  they  now  propose  to 
take,  they  are  not  likely  to  be  stopped  by  a  "fly  on  the 
wheel,"  even  though  it  should  take  the  august  form  of  "A 
Graduate  of  Queen's."     I  am  yours  truly, 

Donald  McLean, 
University  of  Michigan. 

Ann  Arbor,  Nov.  11,  1880. 
Mr.  Editor — I  cannot  permit  this  opportunity  to  pass 
without  adding  a  word  of  praise  to  Professor  iNTcLean  for 
publishing  the  able  and  manly  sentiments  contained  in  the 
foregoing  letter.  And  when  I  consider  the  prejudice  against 
women  who  seek  medical  knowledge,  I  desire  to  give  ex- 
pression to  the  cordial  thanks  of  students  of  this  university 
to  this  eminent  gentleman  for  his  handsome  rebuke  of  a 
person  who  anonymously  and  wantonly  attacks  the  motives 
and  characters  of  female  medical  students.  The  high  pro- 
fessional and  social  standing  of  Professor  ^IcLean  makes 
this  letter  one  of  great  importance.  He  was  a  student  of 
the  celebrated  Professor  Syme,  a  graduate  of  Edinburgh. 


370  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

A  Scotchman  by  birth,  he  is  always  kind  and  attentive  to 
students  under  his  charge,  and  is  consequently  beloved  by 
them.  As  a  surgeon,  he  takes  rank  among  the  most  skillful 
of  his  profession ;  as  a  gentleman,  his  influence  extends  be- 
yond the  wide  range  of  his  professional  work ;  and  as  a  citi- 
zen, he  labors  to  promote  the  best  interests  of  society.  This 
letter  of  Professor  McLean  is  not  the  property  of  the  uni- 
versity, exclusively,  but  of  mankind  generally.  "He  that 
causes  noble  impulses  to  dwell  where  prejudice  has  had 
sway,  lives  for  the  benefit  of  his  race,  and  his  acts  become 
treasures  to  be  highly  prized." 

How  fortunate  it  is  for  woman  that  prejudice  and  slander 
are  not  conclusive  against  her  character.  Whenever  she 
steps  forward  and  modestly  claims  to  be  heard  in  the  ad- 
vancing studies  of  science,  she  is  quite  apt  to  be  rudely  told 
that  her  influence  in  educational  matters  is  pernicious,  and 
her  character  about  to  be  injured  if  she  persists  in  her  ef- 
fort. And  why?  Because  by  this  course  she  asserts  in 
theory  and  principle  what  the  world  should  accord  her  in 
practice.  We  believe  woman  should  have  a  knowledge  of 
the  science  of  medicine.  She  is  the  natural  nurse  and 
physician  of  the  family,  and  is  endowed  with  a  desire  to 
know  more  and  more  of  those  principles  which  are  essen- 
tial to  the  happiness  and  usefulness  of  her  sex. 

In  her  endeavors  to  become  learned  and  useful  in  any 
science,  especially  the  medical,  she  keenly  feels  how  greatly 
this  prejudice  adds  to  the  sacrifices  she  must  make  to  at- 
tain the  desired  position.  Still  she  pushes  onward  and  up- 
ward, and  by  a  life  of  rectitude  and  professional  success 
convinces  the  multitude  that  she,  though  a  woman,  and 
because  she  is  a  woman,  is  doubly  entitled  to  praise  and 
honor. 

No  gentleman  will  seek  to  make  a  club  of  this  noble  ef- 
fort of  woman  to  become  broadly  educated,  by  which  to 
knock  her  down. 


Some  of  Hick  ]ai'E  Ex pkk fences.  .S71 

It  is  the  moral  coward  only  who  will'  resort  to  the  de- 
famation of  the  character  of  woman  and  accuse  her  of  base 
purposes  in  her  heroic  struggle  to  honor  her  sex  bv  acquir- 
ing scholarly  attainments. 

The  world  is  moving  on,  and  the  purer  and  higher  im- 
pulses and  ambitions  of  our  nature  are  not  to  be  destroyed 
by  the  club  of  the  vindictive,  nor  the  forked  tongue  of  the 
slanderer,  but  they  are,  and  are  to  be,  more  and  more  treas- 
ured and  encouraged  by  those  who  love  virtue  and  knowl- 
edge, and  realize  what  a  powerful  shield  they  are  against 
crime.  Intellectual  discipline  of  the  mind  of  woman  makes 
her  more  rigidly  careful  of  her  conduct  and  less  liable  to 
err,  even  as  an  experiment. 

It  is  quite  different  with  men. 

In  fact,  education  in  the  sciences  makes  conscientiousness 
the  leading  element  in  the  character  of  woman,  and  her 
honor  and  her  marked  individuality  become  her  citadel  of 
strength.  After  all,  how  true  it  is  that  the  fame  of  the  gift- 
ed and  the  noble  often  derives  added  luster  from  their 
struggle  with  prejudice  and  slander. 

The  career  of  a  professional  woman  is  an  ever-present 
proof  of  this.  Indeed,  such  a  woman  is  the  architect  of 
her  own  good  fortune.  From  the  very  nature  of  herself 
and  her  surroundings  she  can  rely  on  no  man  for  assistance, 
and  must  succeed  by  her  own  personal  work. 

A  man  may  succeed  by  the  help  of  honorable  influences, 
without  which  he  would  be  a  clear  failure.  But  the  moment 
a  woman  seeks  advancement  through  the  influence  of  per- 
sonal channels  she  is  made  the  mark  of  poisoned  arrows. 
It  is  by  her  own  intrinsic  worth  and  persistent  persever- 
ance that  she  secures  a  position  in  any  profession. 

How  aptly  is  this  illustrated  by  the  true  story  of  Georgian- 
na.  Duchess  of  Devonshire,  in  her  energetic  effort  to  elect 
Mr.  Fox,  the  leader  of  the  whigs,  over  his  opponent,  Sir 
Cecil  Wrag.    Both  were  candidates  for  a  seat  in  parliament 


372  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

ill  1784.  Mr.  Fox  was  in  the  minority,  but  this  woman 
of  extraordinary  beauty  and  the  highest  mental  accompHsh- 
ments  became  interested  in  the  contest  and  took  the  field  for 
Mr.  Fox. 

She  went  from  house  to  house  soHciting-  votes.  She  ap- 
peared at  the  hustings  with  Mr.  Fox.  She  was  denounced 
by  the  opponents  of  Mr.  Fox,  in  the  ministry,  and  merciless- 
ly ridiculed.  Ludicrous  sketches  were  circulated  concern- 
ing her,  some  of  which  were  vile  indeed.  She  was  derided 
as  a  woman  of  the  people ;  but,  notwithstanding  all  this, 
she  moved  on,  and  gained  more  and  more  heart  in  her  cause 
every  day. 

The  result  was  that  Mr.  Fox  was  elected  by  a  large  ma- 
jority. In  all  this  opposition  to  this  remarkable  woman  they 
could  not  prove  the  slightest  stain  on  her  character. 

This  same  spirit  exists  today  against  woman,  if  she  seeks 
to  elevate  herself  to  positions  of  honor  and  usefulness  in 
the  professions,  and  there  are  many  who  are  ready  to  com- 
mit the  forbidden  sin  of  bearing  false  witness  against  her 
motives  and  character.  B.  A.  Owens. 


SoMi:  <»!■   Ili'jv'   l,iii';   lv\  i'i;i<ii':,\'f'KS. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

COMMENTS  OF  THE  PRESS  ON  DR.  ADAIR's  LECTURE  ON   WOMEN 
AS  rilYSICIANS. 

For  lack  of  space  the  lecture,  "Women  as  Physicians," 
which  is  somewhat  len,qthy,  is  omitted,  as  an  excellent  ab- 
stract of  it  is  included  in  the  newspaper  extracts  below  ap- 
pended : 

Salem  paper :  Mrs.  Dr.  Owens,  of  Portland,  read  a  fine 
essay  on  the  subject  "Women  as  Physicians"  before  the 
late  Suffrage  Convention.  It  needs  hardly  to  be  said  (and 
we  have  not  asked  Mrs.  Owens  if  we  may  say  it)  that  one 
of  the  very  best  evidences  of  what  women  can  do  is  found 
in  her  own  success.    We  clip  the  following : 

"In  asserting  that  woman  is  always  ready  for  duty,  and 
always  yielding  to  its  exactions,  we  believe  we  present  her 
true  character.  Today  the  world  beholds  her,  as  she  takes 
her  stand  upon  the  great  field  of  science,  while  the  flag  of 
victory  floats  over  her. 

"Among  the  foremost  ranks  of  this  goodly  array  we  find 
our  pioneer  lady  physicians,  whose  lives  have .  been  puri- 
fied and  beautified,  broadened  and  enobled  by  the  strenuous 
battle  that  was  required  to  be  fought  and  won  in  order  that 
women  as  physicians  might  be  considered  even  respectable. 
Today  we  honor  and  bless  these  noble  mothers,  while  the 
world  looks  on  with  a  smile  that  approves. 

"These  brave  women  who  have  hewn  down  opposition  and 
smoothed  the  rugged  road  to  science  have,  for  the  last  quar- 
ter of  a  century,  been  persistently  knocking  at  the  doors  of 
every  university  and  college  in  this  land.  Repeated  refusals 
have  only  acted  as  a  stimulant,  rather  than  a  sedative,  and 
these  determined  women  have  set  themselves  to  build  hos- 


37-i  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

pitals  and  medical  colleges  of  their  own,  till  today  these  insti- 
tutions rank  equal  in  standing  to  any  in  our  republic,  which, 
as  a  nation,  is  today  the  queen  of  the  world.  Had  I  the  time 
and  space  I  could  fill  pages  with  accounts  of  grand  successes 
in  the  practice  of  medicine  and  brilliant  surgery,  as  well  as 
of  the  scientific  productions  of  our  women  physicians  and 
surgeons.  Woman  today  works  side  by  side  with  her  broth- 
er, man,  and  we  prophecy  that  the  day  is  not  far  distant 
when  he  will  welcome  her  with  pride  and  honor,  and  with 
his  own  strong  right  hand  will  open  wide  the  doors  of  sci- 
ence, and,  with  chivalric  pride,  found  only  in  the  highest 
type  of  manhood,  will  cordially  welcome  his  sister  co-worker. 
And  ma}^  we  not  say,  as  a  concluding  word,  that  woman, 
governed  as  she  is  by  conscious  duty,  possesses  resistless 
power,  and  ma}^  achieve  the  highest  honor  in  the  profes- 
sions of  medicine  and  surgery?" 

Dalles  Mountaineer :  "Our  readers  may  have  noticed  ab- 
stracts published  in  several  journa;ls  from  the  essay  upon 
'Women  as  Physicians,'  read  by  Mrs.  Dr.  Owens  at  the 
Suffrage  Convention  held  in  Portland  not  long  since.  We 
can  but  look  with  favor  upon  this  evidence  of  the  opening 
up  of  a  legitimate  work  singularly  adapted  to  woman's  best 
efforts — a  field  for  the  unlimited  development  of  woman's 
energy,  truth,  earnest  sympathy,  power  of  inspiration,  and 
ability  to  make  it  available  in  sustaining  this  great  de- 
partment of  human  economy,  and  at  the  same  time,  advanc- 
ing and  ennobling  her  OAvn  position  in  her  race  and  genera- 
tion. In  our  own  city  we  have  one  lady  physician,  Mrs.  Dr. 
Avery,  who,  we  are  informed,  has  a  large  and  satisfactory 
practice.     There  is  room  for  all." 

:     "From  the  many  notices  given  to 

Mrs.  Dr.  B.  A.  Owens'  address  before  the  Woman  Suffrage 
Convention  in  Portland,  and  which  was  recently  published 
in  The  New  Northwest,  we  must  infer  that  she  has  awak- 


SoMi',  (>i-  lli.K  Lii'i':  Kxi'KKiKxcics.  375 

encd  quite  an  interest  in  her  subject,  'WfJivKin  as  a  Physi- 
cian.' 

"It  is  spoken  of  hy  the  press  generally  as  possessing  great 
merit. 

"The  lady  deserves  this  i)raise.  Such  addresses  do  much 
to  wipe  out  the  prejudice  that  usually  surrounds  the  'woman 
question,'  and  leaves  it  open  to  fair  and  rational  criticism. 
Many  will  admire  it  the  more  to  know  that  it  is  from  an 
Oregonian,  as  well  as  from  a  student." 

SKATING   AS   AN    EXERCISE. 

Portland,  Ore.,  Jan.  10,  1882. 

To  the  Editor — I  am  very  much  surprised,  and  I  deeply 
regret  to  see  what  I  consider  very  unkind  and  ungenerous 
remarks  about  the  skating-rink  in  the  last  issue  of  a  Sun- 
day paper. 

I,  with  many  others,  welcomed  the  establishment  of  a 
skating  rink  in  Portland,  believing  that  it  would  prove  a 
blessing  in  many  ways  to  our  young  peopde,  more  especially 
to  our  girls,  whose  delicate  health,  in  the  great  majority  of 
cases,  depends  upon  the  want  of  proper  physical  exercise, 
which  fact  is  well  known  to  every  physician.  I  hold  that 
it  is  the  physician's  duty  to  prevent,  as  well  as  mitigate  and 
cure  disease. 

It  has  been  said,  and  truly,  of  the  American  woman,  that 
her  nervous  system  is  developed  at  the  expense  of  the  phys- 
ical. We  have  but  to  look  about  us  to  see  a  host  of  delicate 
young  ladies,  whose  loving  mothers  have  taught  them  the 
art  of  plying  the  needle  and  thread  to  the  extent  that  every 
sofa-cushion  and  foot-stool  in  the  house  is  ornamented  with 
cats,  dogs,  birds,  or  flowers.  But  if  any  one  of  these  young 
ladies  were  required  to  walk  briskly  a  mile  and  a  half  she 
would  be  sure  to  have  an  attack  of  neuralgia,  or  perhaps  a 
"nervous  chill." 


3iG  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

The  doctor  comes  and  prescribes  a  nerve  tonic,  a  bottle 
of  smelling  salts,  and  absolute  rest  for  a  week.  This  is 
fashionable,  but  is  it  right?  Here  is  a  great  principle  in- 
volved, and  it  is  clearly  the  physician's  duty  to  protect,  to 
streng'hten,  and  to  improve  the  health  and  vigor  of  the 
human  race.  A  strong,  healthy  brain  must  be  supported 
and  nourished  by  a  sound,  healthy  body. 

I  have  been  consulted  by  a  number  of  my  patients  as 
to  the  propriety  of  skating.  I  have  said  to  all  my  delicate, 
nervous  and  hysterical  patients,  "Go  to  the  skating  rink,  by 
all  means,  and  skate  enough  to  at  least  start  perspiration ; 
it  will  give  tonicity  to  your  muscles,  and  enable  you  to 
sleep  without  the  aid  of  chloral."  I  have  dropped  in  sev- 
eral times  to  witness  the  skating,  and  I  am  pleased  to  say 
that  I  saw  no  improper  behavior.  I  was  pleased  to  witness 
the  interest  manifested  on  the  part  of  the  skaters  to  excel. 
I  was  gratified  to  note  the  large  number  of  spectators,  es- 
pecially the  ladies,  who  are  among  the  best  families  of  Port- 
land, and  who,  I  understand,  go  regularly  to  the  rink  with 
their  children.  I  believe  a  few  accidents  have  happened, 
in  the  way  of  bruises  and  a  fractured  bone  or  two,  but  acci- 
dents must  happen  in  all  vocations  in  life,  and  this  is  no 
argument  against  skating. 

A  short  time  ago  a  scientific  Englishman  said  to  me:  "I 
am  a  widower  with  two  children;  I  should  like  very  much 
to  get  married,  but  I  am  not  wealthy,  and  I  cannot  afford 
to  marry  a  'doctor's  bill.'  Your  American  women  are  intel- 
lectual and  fascinating,  but  among  the  higher  classes  it  is 
almost  impossible  to  find  one  physically  well  developed. 
And  I  believe  it  the  duty  of  every  man,  in  selecting  a  wife, 
to  look  forward  to  raising  a  healthy  and  vigorous  family." 

Often,  as  I  have  stood  watching  the  skaters,  especially 
the  little  girls  from  eight  to  twelve  years  old,  and  seen  their 
happy  faces  glow  with  delight  as  they  vied  with  each  other 
in  the  race,  I  have  thought  that  could  these  girls  continue 


Some  ok  IIi;r  Life  Exprrtences.  .'577 

to  clcvclo[)  their  muscles  till  they  reach  womanhood,  as  do 
our  boys,  my  Enp^lish  friend  would  not  be  in  such  fear  of 
marrying  a  "doctor's  bill." 

This  recalls  to  mind  the  advice  given  to  a  class  of  young 
doctors  by  an  old  and  much  honored  professor.    He  said : 

"Young  men, .  there  are  two  things  which  every  young 
doctor  needs  on  starting  out  in  life.  First,  a  wife ;  second, 
a  microscope.  And  now,  let  me  admonish  you  to  be  care- 
ful in  the  selection  of  a  wife.  Do  not  select  one  from  among 
that  class  of  dainty  girls  who  are  always  making  cats  and 
dogs  in  worsted.  I  can  think  of  but  one  advantage  you 
would  have  in  marrying  one  of  these  'killing  creatures,'  and 
that  is,  you  would  always  have  at  least  otie  patient,  and  by 
and  by  you  will  have  a  houseful  of  the  same  sort,  which 
you  will  find  will  be  all  you  can  manage.  Take  my  advice, 
and  marry  a  girl  physically  well  developed ;  one  who  can 
dance,  skate,  ride  horseback,  and  do  all  kinds  of  sensible 
things. 

'"Indeed,  I  believe  there  is  no  girl  that  makes  so  good 
a  wife  as  what  is  known  as  the  old-fashioned  'Tom-boy,' 
who  is  always  ready  for  a  romp.  She  can  run  from  the  base- 
ment to  the  garret,  and  slide  to  the  bottom  on  the  bannis- 
ters. Young  man,  if  you  get  this  girl  for  a  wife,  you  need 
give  yourself  no  uneasiness  about  buttonless  shirts,  etc.,  and 
you  can  always  count  on  a  good,  hot  breakfast  to  greet  you 
after  a  long  night's  watch,  and  there  Avill  be  no  sore-eyed 
poodle  dogs  with  pink  or  blue  ribbons  on  their  necks  to  re- 
ceive the  first  attention. " 

In  conclusion  I  will  say,  as  regards  ]\Ir.  Walton,  that  he 
is  a  quiet,  industrious  young  man.  All  that  need  be  said 
in  his  favor  is  that  he  labors  for  the  support  of  his  invalid 
and  Avidowed  mother,  and  he  deserves  the  patronage  of  a 
respectable  community.  Dr.  Owens. 


378  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

story  of  a  girl  whom  dr.  owens  rescued. 
1882. 

One  Sunday  evening  between  nine  and  ten  o'clock  the 
office  bell  was  rung  by  a  fine-looking  young  man,  who  de- 
sired the  Doctor's  attendance  upon  a  sick  person, 

"What  address?"  inquired  the  Doctor,  and  he  replied: 

"I  will  go  there  with  you." 

In  a  few  minutes  they  were  on  their  way,  and  as  they 
approached  the  vicinity  of  Third  and  Taylor  streets,  which 
was  then  the  center  of  the  demi-monde  in  Portland,  Oregon, 
he  asked : 

"Do  you  object  to  visiting  an  inmate  of  a  house  of  ill- 
fame?" 

"No,"  said  Dr.  Owens,  "1  never  refuse  to  visit  any  suffer- 
ing person  who  desires  and  needs  help.  I  will  go  and  do 
all  I  can  for  her." 

They  now  entered  a  building  opposite  the  Taylor  Street 
Ml.  E.  Church,  and  found  themselves  in  a  brilliantly-lighted 
hall.  The  handsomely  furnished  parlors  were  also  alight, 
and  groups  of  beautifully  dressed  women  were  standing 
about,  smilingly  receiving  the  men  who  were  thronging  in. 
Music  and  gaiety  prevailed,  and  everything  had  the  appear- 
ance of  an  evening  reception  in  any  private  residence. 

The  young  man  led  the  way  up  the  stairs,  where  they 
were  met  by  several  women,  who  asked  "Is  this  the  doctor  ?" 
and  took  the  medicine  case  from  the  young  man,  who  said 
to  the  doctor : 

'T  will  await  you  here  and  accompany  you  home." 

She  was  then  shown  into  a  room  where  a  pale^  pretty 
girl  of  fifteen  lay  in  bed,  very  ill,  suffering  with  a  severe 
attack  of  peritonitis.  Questioning  the  child,  for  she  was  but 
a  child,  as  to  how  she  came  there,  she  freely  told  her  story, — 
how  her  widowed  mother  in  San  Francisco  had  re-married, 
and  how  her  (the  daughter's)  home  was  made  unhappy,  so 
that   she   felt  compelled  to  support  herself.     How,   in  the 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  379 

search  for  work  she  met  a  kind  ( ?)  woman,  who  promised 
her  and  another  girl  friend  pleasant  work  and  better  wages 
if  they  would  go  with  her  to  Portland,  Oregon.  Unsus- 
pecting, they  accompanied  her,  and  on  arriving  they  found 
themselves  inmates  of  a  house  of  ill-fame,  friendless  in  a 
strange  city,  and  compelled  to  live  a  life  of  shame,  only  three 
weeks  of  which  sufficed  to  bring  her  to  this  pitiable  con- 
dition. 

Dr.  Owens  had  the  girl  removed  to  a  comfortable  room 
near  her,  where  she  could  be  under  her  immediate  personal 
care  and  treatment.  She  also  interested  some  of  the  Chris- 
tian women  of  Portland  in  the  case,  and  Mrs.  Hurgren  later 
received  the  young  girl  into  her  home  until  she  should  be 
able  to  be  sent  back  to  her  mother. 

Public  interest  was  thus  aroused  and  enlisted,  and  plans 
formed  looking  toward  establishing  a  Refuge  Home  for 
similar  unfortunate  women  who  desired  to  reform.  Sub- 
scriptions were  made  aggregating  a  considerable  sum,  and 
one,  Rev.  ,  especially  interested  himself  in  se- 
curing subscriptions,  taking  good  care  to  collect  his  own 
per  cent  for  this  work.  Only  $40  more  than  that  was  col- 
lected, as  most  of  the  promises  of  money  were  made  con- 
tingent upon  the  carrying  out  of  the  proposed  plans  of 
building,  which  did  not  materialize.  This  $40  was  deposited 
in  the  bank  by  Dr.  Owens,  who  eventually,  some  years  later, 
paid  it  over,  with  the  accrued  interest,  amounting  to  some  $10, 
to  the  management  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  Refuge  Home, — now 
the  Florence  Crittenton  Home,  Portland,  Oregon.  This 
was,  in  fact,  the  nucleus  fund  in  the  foundation  of  that  most 
beneficent  institution. 

As  soon  as  the  poor  girl  was  able  to  make  the  trip  a 
passage  was  secured  for  her  and  she  was  placed  aboard  the 
San  Francisco  steamer.  On  board  were  a  number  of  benevo- 
lent passengers.  Colonel  John  McCraken  among  them,  who, 
besides  rendering  the  child  every  kind  attention,  raised  quite 


380  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

a  s.uni  of  money  which  they  presented  to  her  on  her  arrival 
in  San  Francisco.  As  the  trip  had  been  extremely  rough, 
and  she  had  been  very  seasick,  in  addition  to  her  weakness 
from  her  previous  illness,  they  sent  her  home  in  a  carriage. 

She  lingered  a  few  weeks,  dying  finally  at  home  among 
her  relatives. 

The  clipping  appended  below  gives  additional  particulars. 

Dr.  Adair  was  always  a  loyal  and  powerful  champion  of 
her  own  sex,  and  no  evil  surroundings  or  fear  of  public 
opinion  ever  deterred  her  from  rescuing  her  erring  and  suf- 
fering sisters. 

A  W^ORK  OF  CHARITY   CARRIED  FAITHFULLY  TO  THE  VERGE  OF 

JORDAN. 

The  young  woman  who  was  rescued  from  a  house  of  ill- 
repute  in  this  city  by  Mrs.  Dr.  Owens  and  others,  two 
months  or  more  ago,  was  taken  to  San  Francisco,  where 
her  parents  reside,  on  the  "Queen  of  the  Pacific,"  which 
sailed  on  the  3d  inst. 

The  girl's  name  has  been  kept  secret  in  order  that  she 
might  have  all  the  chances  possible  for  reforming.  Her 
trip  down  was  very  severe,  and  she  was  very  sick.  Pas- 
sengers aboard  paid  her  special  attention,  and  tried  to  make 
her  voyage  as  comfortable  as  could  be.  When  she  reached 
the  home  of  her  mother  she  was  so  low  as  to  be  in  a  dying 
condition,  and  the  prospects  for  her  recovery,  according 
to  a  late  private  letter,  are  ver}^  meager.  She  expressed 
herself  as  happy  and  glad  to  be  back  at  her  home,  where  she 
could  die  among  her  own  people,  if  it  was  her  fate  to  die. 
The  charitable  ladies  and  gentlemen  who  took  this  case 
in  hand  have  done  all  they  could  and  accomplished  more 
than  was  expected  of  them.  By  kindness  they  induced  the 
girl  to  leave  the  life  that  would  result  in  her  death  in  a 
short  time,  allowing  her  all  the  while  to  choose  for  herself, 
and  when  she  finally  made  up  her  mind  they  threw  around 


Some  ov  TIkr  Lii'I':  Exi'Muiknces.  .'iHl 

her  all  the  safet;iiarfls  possible.  A  physician  and  medicines 
were  furnished,  and  a  good  home  provided,  and  last  of  all, 
money  was  raised  to  send  her  home.  The  girl  has  ex- 
pressed her  gratitude  to  her  benefactors,  which  was  the 
only  re-paymcnt  she  could  make,  and  which  is  ample  enough, 
and  it  now  remains  to  know  whether  she  will  pass  over  the 
river,  the  brink  of  which  she  has  now  reached. 

The  drummer  who  made  such  professions  of  svmpathy 
for  her  and  who,  in  the  beginning,  acted  as  if  he  meant 
what  he  said,  has  not  been  heard  from  since  he  left  here. 

HABIT  IN  FORMING  CHARACTER. 

1885. 

Mcthinks  I  hear  someone  say :  What  has  habit  to  do 
with  heredity  and  health? 

Well,  we  shall  see. 

And,  to  begin  with  an  illustration,  I  must  confess  that 
there  is  one  habit  which  has  grown  to  be  almost  universal 
among  the  officers  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  It  is  this :  That  each 
sister  believes  that  her  particular  department  should  receive 
more  attention,  and  is  of  vastly  more  importance  to  the  life 
and  health  of  our  great  organization  than  that  of  any  other 
of  the  thirty-nine  special  departments  of  our  work.  I  do 
not  claim  to  be  an  exception  to  the  general  rule,  and  it 
shall  be  my  purpose  in  this  paper  to  show  as  well  as  I  can, 
the  great  extent  and  importance  of  the  influences  for  both 
good  and  evil  depending  upon  habit,  which,  after  all.  is  one 
of  the  prime  factors  in  heredity  and  hygiene.  Too  little  at- 
tention has  heretofore  been  given  to  this  all-important  sub- 
ject. 

You  may  ask,  What  is  habit?  Habit  is  the  result  of  an 
internal,  inherent  principle  that  leads  us  to  do  easily,  nat- 
urally, and  often  involuntarih".  what  we  do  often.  Habit 
maj'  be  inherited,  or  acquired.  It  may  grow  and  develop 
througfh  nurture  and  cultivation,  until  it  becomes  the  con- 


382  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

trolling  law  and  consuming  power  of  our  whole  being.  The 
study  and  observance  of  this  most  wonderful  and  powerful 
force  should  begin,  not  only  with  the  birth  of  the  child,  but 
with  its  prenatal  hfe,  as  well.  Parents  are  responsible,  to  a 
great  extent,  for  the  moral,  mental,  and  physical  condition 
of  their  children.  I  hold  that  it  is  the  sacred  duty  of  all 
parents  to  see  to  it  not  only  that  their  children  should  be 
properly  and  well-born,  but  that  the  parents  themselves  shall, 
prior  to  marriage,  receive  suitable  instructions  concerning 
that  holy  and  most  important  duty  of  this  life,  the  giving 
to  the  world  children  with  pure,  healthy  minds  and  bodies. 
With  such  children,  the  labor  of  instruction  would  be  a 
source  of  pleasure,  while  disease  and  crime  would  soon 
become  the  exception,  instead  of  as  now,  the  rule.  We  are 
told  by  scientists  that  "we  cannot  stand  still.  We  must 
go  up  or  we  must  go  down."  This  is  a  universal  law  to 
which  all  nature  is  subject. 

The  chemist  tell  us  that  the  theoretical  atoms  which  give 
birth  to  the  microscopic  molecule  are  always  and  must  for- 
ever continue  in  motion.  On  this  atomic  theory  depends 
the  great  science  of  electricity,  which  was  once  described 
as  a  subtle,  imponderable  fluid.  Today  electricity  is  dem- 
onstrated to  be  only  a  peculiar  result,  which  is  produced  or 
developed  by  a  change  brought  about  in  the  atomic  and 
molecular  elements  of  the  medium  which  is  thus  acted  upon. 
The  various  qualities  and  quantities  of  this  wonderful  phe- 
nomenon depend  upon  special  forces,  operating  on  special 
media,  which,  in  turn,  give  rise  to  most  wonderful  and 
varied  phenomena. 

The  brain,  which  is  the  great  center  of  our  nervous  sys- 
tem, may  be  likened  to  the  central  office  of  an  extensive 
telephone  or  telegraphic  system,  which  transmits  and  re- 
ceives its  communications  through  this  same  mysterious 
agent.     Yet  the  brain,  which  is  the  most  complicated  and 


SoMK  OF  Heu  Life  Experiences.  383 

highly  endowed  organ  of  the  organic  system,  is,  as  we  shall 
endeavor  to  show,  subjected  to  the  influence  of  habit. 

The  old,  old  saying  that  "We  are  a  bundle  of  habits," 
savors  much  of  truth,  and  is  worthy  of  our  most  careful 
consideration.  Each  organ  of  our  body  has  a  special  func- 
tion, or  work,  to  perform,  which  is  somewhat  independent 
in  its  own  action.  Yet,  due  to  the  intimate  relationship 
existing  throughout  the  entire  system,  the  action  of  one 
or  all  of  the  organs  may  be  modified,  or  suspended  by  the 
abnormal  action  of  one  or  more  members  of  the  great 
system. 

The  office  of  the  stomach  is  to  properly  prepare  the  food 
for  the  reception  of  other  refining  departments  for  assimila- 
tion. Now,  if  the  stomach  receives  ]:)roper  consideration 
and  respect,  it  will,  as  a  rule,  return  us  good  and  faithful 
service  throughout  our  natural  lives.  But  that  we  do 
treat  our  stomachs  with  pro])er  consideration  and  respect  is 
the  exception,  and  not  the  rule.  The  mouth  is  the  receptacle 
for  the  crude  material,  from  which  must  be  manufactured 
bone,  nerve,  muscle,  brain  and  blood.  These,  in  turn,  feed, 
support,  and  protect  that  mysterious  something  which  w^e 
call  "Life."  Our  teeth,  the  most  durable  and  dense  of  all 
the  human  structures,  are  admirably  adapted  to  the  import- 
ant work  for  which  they  were  intended — that  of  mastication. 
Few  persons  seem  to  give  this  all-important  subject  a  mo- 
ment's consideration.  The  great  majority  of  people  spend 
less  than  twenty  minutes  at  the  table.  In  other  words,  mo.st 
people  "bolt"  their  food,  thereby  imposing  much  extra  work 
on  the  stomach,  seemingiy  without  a  thought  of  the  flagrant 
injustice  done  that  much-abused  organ. 

Like  the  true  and  faithful  servant  that  it  is,  the  stomach 
struggles  hard  under  its  accumulated  task,  and  for  a  time, 
if  strong  and  vigorous,  it  may  succeed  in  fully  preparing  the 
material  for  the  next  higher  department ;  but  in  time  this 
maltreated  servant  will  be  found  doing  the  work  imperfectly. 


384  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

and  the  recompense  for  this  culpable  injustice  will  be  sure  to 
come  in  the  form  of  some  of  the  many  ills  known  as  "dis- 
ease," to  which  all  humanity  is  heir.  Gladstone,  fully  realiz- 
ing the  imperative  necessity  of  thorough  mastication,  re- 
quired his  children  to  make  forty  revolutions  of  the  teeth  on 
a  mouthful  of  meat,  before  swallowing  it.  His  children  will 
surely  form  good  habits  in  the  observance  of  one  of  the 
essential  duties  of  mankind,  that  of  preserving  life  and 
health.  English  people,  as  a  rule,  are  much  less  given  to 
"bolting"  their  food  than  are  the  more  nervous,  active 
Americans.  Indeed,  their  movements  in  all  directions  are 
much  less  impulsive.  We  have,  through  the  habits  of  thrift, 
rush  and  push,  inspired  by  ambitions  worth}^  in  themselves, 
acquired  this  national  habit  of  hurry. 

This  power  of  habit  is  a  law  that  holds  good  throughout 
the  animal  kingdom.  We  see  it  forcibly  illustrated  in  every 
avenue  of  life.  It  is  simply  wonderful  how  susceptible  all 
creatures  are  to  its  subtle  influence.  We  are  told  that  the 
common  American  swallow,  before  the  advent  of  civilized 
man,  built  its  nest  in  the  crevices  of  the  rocks  and  cliffs. 
But  in  time  the  necessity  of  self-preservation  taught  these 
little  creatures  the  prudent  habit  of  selecting  shelter  and 
protection  among  our  chimneys  and  eaves-troughs.  '  This 
habit  has  at  last  developed  into  a  trait  which  is  transmitted 
to  each  succeeding  generation.  Our  daily  associations  have 
much,  very  much,  to  do  with  forming  our  habits  of  thought 
and  action — indeed,  in  shaping  our  whole  lives.  We  are 
constantly  receiving  from,  and  giving  out  to  our  surround- 
ings. We  gradually  and  often,  imperceptibly,  partake  of 
the  views,  manners,  and  customs  of  those  wtih  whom  we  as- 
sociate. This  fact  was  somewhat  amusingly  illustrated  in 
my  own  experience  during  a  Villard  reception.  At  that 
time  I  attended  a  meeting  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  and  listened  to 
short  addresses  from  several  eminent  English  gentlemen. 
On  leaving  the  building  I  chanced  to  meet  a  very  intelligent 


Soivnc  OF  IJioK  Lii'i':  Ivximckiicncks.  .18/) 

Eng'Iish  lady,  whom  I  have  known  since  her  arrival  in  the 
United  States,  about  twelve  years  before.  She  said  to  me : 
"Well,  well,  what  a  brogue !  Really,  I  could  scarcely  under- 
stand them.  My  native  tongue,  I  suppose.  But  it  is  not 
possible  that  /  talked  like  that  when  I  came  to  America, 
is  it?" 

"Indeed,  so  potent  is  this  power  that  almost  every  organ 
of  our  body  may  be  brought  under  its  insinuating  influence, 
for  good  or  evil,  thus  ixtarding  or  developing  the  growth  of 
our  minds  or  bodies.  If  you  bind  your  arm  to  your  body, 
rendering  it  stationary,  it  will  soon  become  useless.  The 
joint  will  anchylose ;  the  muscles  grow  flabby  and  helpless. 
Why  it  this  ?  Because  motion,  exercise  and  labor  are  neces- 
sary to  the  health,  growth  and  vigor  of  our  organism.  A 
proper  knowledge  of  this  fact  will  enable  us  to  develop  and 
strengthen  our  bodies  as  a  whole  or  in  part,  as  desired.  The 
blacksmith's  right  arm  increases  in  size  and  strength  in  pro- 
portion to  the  work  he  does.  If,  through  ignorance  or  care- 
lessness, we  masticate  all  our  food  with  the  teeth  on  but  one 
side  of  the  mouth,  we  shall  soon  bring  about  a  deformity  of 
the  face,  by  developing  the  tissues  of  one  side,  at  the  expense 
of  the  other.  If  a  mother  lays  her  infant  on  one  side  only 
for  two  or  three  months,  its  health  may  not  seem  to  sufifer, 
or  its  growth  be  retarded,  but  its  little  head  will  have  grown 
very  much  one-sided,  and,  if  not  forced  to  lie  on  the  other 
side  for  several  months  to  come,  it  will  carry  this  deformity 
with  it  through  life.  It  is  remarkable  how  soon  we  may 
accustom  ourselves  to  our  surroundings  and  requirements. 
If  we  wish  to  rise,  say  at  four  in  the  morning,  and  promptly 
obey  the  alarm  clock  for  a  few  mornings  in  succession,  we 
may  then  safely  dispense  with  the  alarm,  as  the  habit  will 
have  been  formed,  and  it  will  say  to  sleep,  "Begone !'' 

This  may  also  be  clearly  illustrated  by  the  stomach.  If 
you  require  your  stomach  to  digest  four  meals  a  day,  as  do 
the  Germans,  it  will  remind  you  of  each  meal-time  by  creat- 


38B  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

ing  hunger,  a  desire  for  food  promptly  at  the  usual  time. 
But,  if  you  say,  through  your  will  power,  "I  will  take  three, 
or  only  two  meals  per  day,"  and  be  resolute  and  punctual 
in  carrying  out  your  resolve,  your  stomach  will,  after  a  time, 
cease  to  annoy  you,  and  accommodate  itself  to  your  de- 
mands. The  longer  any  habit  has  been  indulged  in,  the 
harder  will  it  be  to  overcome,  and  the  easier  it  will  be  to 
acquire  it  again,  even  after  the  lapse  of  time. 

The  will  is  said  to  be  the  controlling  power,  or  balance- 
wheel  of  our  complex  mechanism.  It  is  the  innate  intellectual 
energy  of  the  human  mind.  Like  a  beautiful  flower  it  un- 
folds itself  from  all  the  other  forces  of  the  mind,  and  radiates 
through  the  whole  sphere  of  our  activity. 

It  is  the  purely  practical  faculty  of  man.  Through  a  dis- 
tinct power  or  energy  of  the  mind,  it  blends  itself  with  every 
other  power  which  we  possess.  It  associates  itself  with  our 
intellectual  decisions^  on  the  one  hand,  and  our  emotional 
attachments,  on  the  other.  It  contains  an  important  ele- 
ment which  cannot  be  resolved  into  one  or  both  combined. 

The  other  powers,  such  as  reason,  conscience,  and  sensi- 
bility, may  influence  the  will,  but  they  cannot  constitute  it, 
or  perform  its  peculiar  work.  Thus  we  realize  the  value  of 
a  strong,  healthy,  will-power;  also  that  it  should  be  guided 
by  a  pure  conscience,  a  high  moral  sense,  and  refined  sensi- 
bility. 

In  disease  and  sickness  the  will-power  is  weakened,  and 
is  said  to  suffer  more  than  the  other  faculties  of  the  mind, 
as  the  memory  is  the  first  faculty  to  fail  with  advancing 
years. 

HEREDITY  AND   HYGIENE. 

(1885-6.) 

To  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  Convention. 

Dear  Sisters :  In  the  absence  of  your  Superintendent  of 
Heredity,  I  have  been  requested  to  supply  a  few  general  re- 
marks upon  this  important  subject. 


SoMic  OF  lli'.K  Iji'ic  Iv\  im;i<iknces.  387 

I  will  endeavor  lo  show  you  hy  rclalinj^^  a  little-  circum- 
stance, liow  (|uickly  our  people  take  up  aiul  understand  a 
subject,  when  properly  hrouj^dit  before  them. 

Thirteen  years  ago,  when  T'  was  made  su])erintendcnt  of 
this  department,  I  ])re])ared  and  delivered  a  lecture  on 
Heredity. 

It  was  announced  in  the  (Jregonian.  The  next  morning 
an  article  appeared  in  the  local  column  which  read  about  in 
this  wise : 

"I  would  respectfully  ask  Mrs.  Dr.  Owens  to  define  'He- 
redity' for  the  enlightenment  of  this  cominunity,  as  the  word 
is  not  to  be  found  in  either  Webster's  or  Wooster's  diction- 
aries." 

The  editor  answered  this  in  a  line  beneath,  saying  that  the 
word  could  be  found  in  the  appendix  of  Webster's  newest 
edition. 

Today,  if  there  is  a  heinous  crime  or  tragedy  committed, 
every  newspaper  of  any  note  in  the  land  begins  at  once  to 
ferret  out  the  cause,  through  the  channels  of  heredity. 

I  presume  many  of  you  read  the  able  editorial  in  the 
Oregonian  a  few  days  ago,  on  that  fearful  tragedy  in  San 
Francisco,  in  which  the  editor  showed  how,  through  the 
law  of  transmission,  for  a  generation  or  more,  the  sins  of 
that  great  city  culminated  in  this  shocking  tragedy. 

Through  our  Mother's  meetings.  Hygiene  and  Heredity 
are  being  taug-ht  most  thoroughly  and  properly.  I  have 
myself  prepared  and  delivered  a  number  of  lectures  for  these 
meetings,  and  today  this  subject  is  being  brought  efficiently 
into  every  household,  through  some  of  the  various  channels, 
especially  through  the  public  press,  until  now  we  have 
learned  that  this  is  one  of  God's  great  laws,  and  that  like  a 
two-edged  sword,  it  wall  cut  both  ways,  and  curse  or  bless 
us,  as  we  direct  it  for  good  or  evil. 

Through  the  knowledge   of  this   law  we  can   and  must 


388  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

protect  our  nation  from  insanity,  epilepsy,   and  the  varied 
train  of  abnormalities  that  follow  in  their  wake. 

And  today  I  prophesy  that  our  nation  will  awake,  and 
arise,  as  one  man,  and  one  woman,  and  the  cleansing  work 
will  begin.  I  believe  it  will  not  require  more  than  one  cen- 
tury to  effectually  close  the  doors  of  our  penitentiaries,  in- 
sane asylums,  rescue  homes,  reform  schools,  and  all  like 
institutions,  under  whose  burdens  we  are  now  groaning, 
mentally,  physically  and  financially.  May  God  speed  that 
time,  is  my  prayer. 


SoMii  OF  Hek  Life  Experiences,  -W.) 


CHAPTER  XXX. 
BANDS  OF  hope:  an  address  delivered  at  the  temperance 

CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY. 

My  Dear  Children : 

I  am  g-reatly  pleased  to  see  so  many  of  you  here  this 
evening,  and  I  feel  particularly  glad  to  have  the  opportunity 
of  speaking  to  all  of  you.  This  is  your  day.  Today  you 
are  the  center  of  attraction,  and  your  bright  eyes  and  intelli- 
gent faces  plainly  prove  that  you  are  aware  of  this  fact.  But 
at  }our  tender  ages,  you  cannot  fully  realize  your  great 
worth  to  us,  your  friends,  your  parents,  and  your  country. 

Never  was  a  truth  more  fully  spoken  than  this :  "A  home 
is  not  a  home  without  children."  You  are  literally  our 
priceless  jewels ;  without  you  to  adorn  and  beautify  our  lives 
we  would  be  dissatisfied,  unhappy  and  lonely  indeed. 

God  created  in  us  this  great  desire  and  love  for  children, 
and  when  we  look  into  the  faces  of  our  children,  we  are  con- 
stantly reminded  of  our  great  responsibility  to  them ;  and  the 
desire  comes  to  us  to  live  well  for  their  sakes,  so  that  we  may 
train  them  up  to  become  good  and  useful  men  and  women. 

Every  year  we  value  our  children  more  and  more,  and 
we  are  constantly  striving  to  improve  them  by  every  means 
in  our  power. 

You,  members  of  the  Band  of  Hope,  have  no  doubt  heard 
and  understand  why  your  society  is  thus  named,  but  the 
little  outsiders  do  not  know  that  you  are  literally  our  bands 
of  hope.  You  are  just  the  very  children  from  whom  we 
hope  to  receive  the  most  good  in  all  the  time  to  come.  We 
hope  to  see  you  in  the  highest  places  in  our  land,  when  you 
are  grown  to  be  men  and  women.  Being  our  bands  of  hope, 
you  are  also  the  hope  of  the  liberty-loving  men  and  women 


390  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

of"  all  other  countries,  as  well  as  those  in  our  own  native 
land.  As  you  grow  older,  you  will  understand  and  appre- 
ciate how  much  good  it  has  done  you  to  belong  to  one  of 
these  bands.  You  will  find  the  number  of  these  bands  and 
their  membership  will  increase  as  the  years  roll  by,  and  while 
they  are  growing,  each  and  every  child  will  be  doing  some- 
thing to  help  grown  people  to  put  down  whiskey  and  to- 
bacco. We  expect  a  great  deal  of  help  from  you,  and  we 
surely  need  all  we  can  get ;  so  you  must  all  do  your  very  best 
to  help  us. 

I  hope  you  will  try  to  get  as  many  of  your  playmates  and 
friends  to  join  your  bands  as  you  possibW  can.  I  expect 
some  of  you  belong  to  bands  of  only  a  few  numbers,  but  do 
not  let  that  discourage  3^ou.  Just  remember  how  many  very 
great  things  have  been  accomplished  by  small  beginnings. 
You  have  all  seen  a  great  many  big  trees,  but  did  you  ever 
stop  to  think  what  little  seeds  they  all  came  from?  And 
some  of  the  very  largest  came  from  the  tiniest  seeds.  Now, 
my  children,  you  are  in  many  ways  just  like  fruit  trees. 
Like  them,  you  need  a  great  deal  of  care  and  pruning  to 
make  you  grow  up  beautiful  and  useful.  The  fruit  raiser 
takes  good  care  of  his  trees.  He  digs  around  their  roots, 
and  gives  them  plenty  of  rich  earth  and  water,  which  to 
them  is  food  and  drink.  He  prunes  off  all  the  straggling, 
ugly  limbs,  and  so  makes  them  grow  strong,  beautiful  and 
useful. 

You,  also,  need  good,  wholesome  food  to  make  you  grow 
strong,  such  as  good  milk,  bread  and  butter,  fruit  and 
vegetables ;  not  candy,  nuts  and  sweetcakes.  Then  you  must 
have  all  your  bad  habits  cut  or  pruned  off,  such  as  bad 
temper,  saying  bad  words,  cjuarreling  with  your  playmates, 
being  late  at  school  and  many  other  ugly  branches. 

When  you  have  gotten  rid  of  all  these  bad  habits,  or  ugly 
branches,  you  will  be  beautiful  and  useful,  for  you  will 
then  be  full  of  good   which  we  call  gentleness,   kindness, 


Some  oe  IIi:i<  l.iii::   I'lxi'i'.uii^NCics.  .'391 

truth  fulness  and  nohlcncss.  Then  you  will  not  only  be  a 
blessin',''  to  your  fathers  and  mothers,  hut  every  one  will  love 
you.  So  I  say,  do  not  he  discourat^^ed  ;  hut  ^o  rit^ht  along, 
pruning-  off  all  your  had  hahits ;  and  rememher,  just  as  soon 
as  a  l)ad  habit  is  gone,  a  good  one  is  sure  to  take  its  place. 
I  want  you  to  remember,  too,  that  it  is  only  about  one  hun- 
dred years  since  the  first  temperance  essay  was  written  in 
our  country;  yet  now  we  have  numbers  of  them  and  of  lec- 
tures printed  every  day,  and  thousands  of  temperance  people 
in  all  the  towns  and  cities  of  the  United  States.  One  hundred 
years  ago  there  were  not  nearly  so  many  temperance  ]^eople 
in  all  our  land  as  there  are  temperance  children  now  in  Ore- 
gon, alone.  Perseverance  and  attention  to  duty  has  made 
our  temperance  party  strong,  following  your  teachers'  ex- 
ample and  teaching  will  make  each  band  of  hope  grow 
stronger  daih^  Many  of  yovi  are  old  enough  to  know  why 
we  called  the  year  1876  our  centennial  year.  Then  we  cele- 
brated the  one  hundredth  year  of  our  country's  independence. 
Toda}^  we  commemorate  the  one  hundredth  birthday  of 
that  most  righteous  cause  of  temperance,  and,  with  your 
help,  we  intend  that  many  of  the  children  I  am  now  talking 
to  will  live  to  see  our  country  free  from  the  awful  curses 
of  whiskey  and  tobacco.  Some  of  you  may  never  have  seen 
a  drunken  man.  I  only  wish  I  could  know  that  you  would 
never  see  one.  But  as  you  grow  up,  the  boys  among  you 
will  be  thrown  into  the  compan}-  of  the  men  who  drink 
liquor,  and  if  they  take  a  drink  they  will  sometimes  get 
drunk.  Therefore,  I  say  to  you  all :  Boys,  the  only  safe  plan 
in  life  is  not  to  drink  intoxicating  liquors  at  all.  Never  take 
the  first  drink,  and  }'OU  are  sure  to  escape  much  of  the 
misery  that  most  men  suffer.  I  would  also  ask  you  to  shun 
tobacco  all  your  lives.  Do  not  be  tempted  to  smoke  cigar- 
ettes because  some  older  boys  smoke  them,  even  if  these 
bigger  bo3's  happen  to  be  your  brothers  and  fathers.  Just 
ask  vour  father  if  he  does  not  wish  he  had  never  learned 


392  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

to  smoke;  I  am  sure  he  will  answer,  "Yes."  It  is  usually 
boys  and  not  men,  who  learn  to  smoke,  and  teach  little  boys 
to  do  it,  so  if  you  do  not  begin  this  filthy  habit  while  you 
are  boys,  you  are  not  likely  ever  to  be  cursed  with  the  to- 
bacco habit.  I  have  never  known  a  man  over  thirty  years 
old  to  begin  the  use  of  tobacco ;  but  I  have  known  many 
above  that  age  to  give  up  the  filthy  stufl:  at  once,  and  forever. 
Neither  whiskey  or  tobacco  can  do  one  of  you  the  least 
possible  good,  but  either  will  do  you  a  great  deal  of  harm, 
from  the  first  drink  or  cigar  to  the  last  bottle  or  pipe.  At 
first,  you  will  think  that  liquor  only  makes  you  a  little 
jolly,  and  that  you  will  take  care  not  to  get  drunk.  But,  my 
dear  boys,  this  has  been  the  thought  and  determination  of 
every  poor,  forsaken  drunkard  that  ever  lived.  So  don't  be 
tempted  to  take  even  the  first  glass.  And  as  for  smoking  or 
chewing  tobacco,  why  should  you  blacken  your  pretty  teeth, 
make  your  breath  smell  horribly,  and  in  addition  to  all  this, 
make  yourself  deathly  sick?  Just  for  what?  Can  you  tell 
me?  I  am  sure  you  cannot  give  me  any  good  reason.  Old 
smokers  cannot  tell  you  what  they  gain  by  using  tobacco. 
But  they  will  tell  you  that  tobacco  has  injured  them,  in 
purse  and  health,  and  they  wish  they  had  never  learned  to 
use  the  vile  stuff,  but,  having  formed  the  bad  habit,  thfey 
cannot  get  along  without  it.  The  fact  is,  my  dear  boys,  this 
bad  habit  has  grown  to  be  such  a  big,  long  branch,  that  they 
don't  think  they  can  stand  it  to  have  it  cut  off.  So,  now, 
my  dear  children,  is  the  best  time  of  all  to  learn  to  care  for 
your  bodies  and  minds,  while  you  are  growing  and  devel- 
oping. In  order  to  do  this  properly,  you  ought  to  learn 
about  your  own  organism ;  that  is,  how  you  are  constructed, 
or  put  together;  about  your  different  organs',  or  parts,  and 
for  what  purpose  these  different  parts  of  your  bodies  were 
given  you. 

You  are  each  made  up  of  many  thousands  of  org-ans,  or 
parts,  and  I  want  you  to  remember  some  of  the  things  I  am 


SoiviK  oi'  Her  Life  Experiences.  393 

going  to  tell  you.  T  want  cnrli  lit  lie  hoy  never  to  forjjfet 
that  he  has  jnst  as  many  or^^ans  in  his  ixKly  as  the  higgest, 
or  greatest  man  in  the  world.  Each  one  of  you  has  over 
300  muscles,  200  bones,  and  many  thousands  of  blood  vessels 
and  nerves. 

All  these  different  organs  arc  ytjur  servants,  and  if  you 
will  only  learn  to  care  for  them,  and  treat  them  well,  they 
will  do  you  good  and  faithful  service  all  your  life-time;  but 
if  you  neglect  and  abuse  them,  they  will  rebel,  and  render 
your  life  very  unhappy,  so  much  so  that  you  will  be  miser- 
able and  sicck  most  of  the  time.  Eor  these  are  God's  Holy 
laws ;  and  if  you  break  them,  you  must  pay  the  penalty  with 
suffering  and  death. 

Now  you  know  for  what  purpose  your  hands,  feet,  eyes, 
and  ears  were  given  you,  and  I  know  you  value  them  so  much 
that  you  would  not  sell  any  one'  of  them  for  thousands  of 
dollars. 

But  you  could  live  if  you  lost  all  of  these.  But  you  have 
other  organs  of  which  if  you  should  lose  any  one,  you  could 
not  live.  Among  them  are  your  heart,  lungs,  liver,  and 
stomach.  To  these  we  have  given  the  name  of  the  "vital 
organs." 

Now  it  is  necessary  that  you  should  learn  a  good  deal 
about  yourselves,  that  you  may  understand  how  you  should 
live;  what  you  should  eat  and  drink,  in  order  that  you  may 
grow  up  strong  and  health}-  men  and  women. 

To  help  you  in  this  purpose,  the  temperance  people  have 
been  getting  laws  made  in  many  states  requiring  all  the 
public  schools  to  teach  these  things  to  every  child  that 
attends  them.  So,  next  spring,  in  addition  to  your  other 
studies,  all  you  children  will  begin  to  learn  about  yourselves, 
and  what  you  should,  and  should  not,  eat  and  drink. 

You  will  also  learn  about  alcohol,  tobacco  and  opium, 
Then  you  will  learn  that  they  are  poisons,  and  should  never 
be  used,  except  for  medicinal  purposes,  and  as  medicines. 


394  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

]\Iy  dear  children,  you  cannot  yet  realize  how  strongly  you 
will  be  tempted  to  use  these  slow  poisons,  and  do  m^ny  other 
wrong-  things,  when  you  go  out  in  the  world.  Then  your 
power  to  resist  these  temptations — to  say  "No,"  will  depend 
very  much  on  your  own  teachings;  just  such  instructions  as 
you  are  all  now  receiving  from  your  parents,  your  band,  and 
your  Sunday-school  teachers.  Perhaps  some  of  yovi  may 
break  your  pledges  (though  I  hope  you  never  will),  but 
many  of  you  will  faithfully  keep  them,  and  will  look  back, 
when  you  are  grown,  with  pride  and  gratitude  to  these 
blessed  teachers,  and  thank  God  that  through  their  influence 
you  were  saved  from  man's  two  greatest  foes  on  earth, 
whiskey  and  tobacco. 

Tonight  thousands  of  halls  are  decorated  with  delicious 
fruits  and  lovel)^  flowers,  God's  free  and  precious  gifts  to 
mankind,  and  if  properly  used,  they  will  give  us  health  and 
strength,  but  if  wrongfully  employed,  they  will  bring  us 
only  sorrow,  sickness  and  death.  Soon  you  will  learn  that 
from  many  of  these  delicious  fruits  and  grains,  the  various 
alcoholic  poisons  are  made. 

The  sparkling  wine,  of  which  the  Bible  warns  us,  is  made 
from  the  juice  of  the  delicious  grapes  you  see  in  all  our  friut 
stores.  AVhiskey  is  made  from  corn  and  rye;  ale,  beer  and 
porter  from  barley,  and  other  grains. 

But  remember  this :  That  in  order  to  make  these  liquors, 
these  fruits  and  grains  must  pass  through  a  rotting  process 
that  makes  them  unfit  for  food  or  the  nourishment  of  your 
bodies.  You  will  soon  have  a  chance  to  learn  all  about 
these  things  in  your  public  schools.  Perhaps  some  of  you 
children  would  like  to  know  what  a  great  work  is  being 
done  by  the  little  people  across  the  ocean.  Only  a  short  time 
since,  the  United  Kingdom  Band  of  Hope  celebrated  its  an- 
niversary in  Exeter  Hall,  London. 

Only  think  of  it!  One  million  and  a  half  members  re- 
ported,  and   over   three   thousand   young  people   presented 


Some  of  Hek  Ijii'I  ICxim:i<iences.  395 

themselves  for  competitive  examination  conccrninj^  tlie 
effects  of  alcohol,  and  many  more  contested  for  prizes  which 
were  given  for  temperance  talcs  and  essays.  During  last 
year  they  have  collected  and  uscfl  in  their  work,  over  nine 
thousand  dollars !  So  you  see,  children,  your  Bands  of  Hope 
will  soon  spread  over  and  reach  all  around  the  world. 

You  will  soon  grow  into  the  grandest  army  that  was  ever 
marshalled  into  battle  for  any  cause. 

We  have  abiding  faith  in  you  and  your  l)attle  against  Rum 
and  Tobacco. 

We  believe  now  that  you  will,  in  time,  drive  these  enemies 
from  all  the  civilized  world,  for  you  are  fighting  for  God, 
your  home,  and  your  native  land. 

DISCIPLINE  OF  CHILDREN. 

This  is  a  far-reaching  subject,  comprising  both  physical 
and  mental  training,  upon  which  volumes  might  be  written 
of  value  to  the  young,  and  to  those  fully  mature. 

I  am  asked:  "When  should  this  training  begin?"  I  an- 
swer. 

"From  the  child's  birth  ;"'  and  I  might  add,  with  much 
truth,  "F'rom  the  beginning  of  its  pre-natal  life,  as  well." 

You  may  ask :  "How  can  a  child  be  trained  prior  to  its 
birth  ?" 

I  answer :  "Through  the  discipline  of  the  mother,  herself, 
through  the  period  of  gestation." 

I  would  like  to  say  much  upon  this  period  of  a  child's  life, 
which  has  so  much  to  do  with  its  future  growth,  health  and 
development. 

But  the  subject  is  too  extensive  for  this  short  talk. 

Miss  Willard  says :  "The  discipline  of  a  child  should  be- 
gin a  hundred  years  before  its  birth." 

Even  a  bright,  vigorous  mind  must  depend  much  on  a 
strong,  healthy  body,  which,  in  turn,  requires  good,  nourish- 
ing  food,   warm   clothing,   soap   and   water,   pure   air,   and 


396  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

plenty  of  out  door  exercise.  To  make  my  meaning  quite 
clear,  I  will  tell  you  how  1  care  for  a  baby,  which  is  some- 
what different  from  the  care  given  to  little  Miss  Cleveland, 
of  which  we  lately  read. 

The  Oregonian  devoted  considerable  space  to  her  babyship 
a  few  weeks  since,  in  which  I  was  much  interested.  I  judge 
that  at  the  time  of  that  writing,  Baby  Cleveland  was  between 
five  and  six  weeks  old.  The  writer  stated  that  she  was 
bathed  three  times  a  week;  that  she  was  not  allowed  the 
luxury  of  a  cradle,  but  occupied  a  little  basket,  set  on  the 
floor.  That  the  happy  father  was  not  yet  permitted  to  take 
his  baby  in  his  arms,  but  was  granted  the  privilege  of  carry- 
ing her  up  and  down  the  room  in  her  basket.  Notwithstand- 
ing she  was  at  that  time  represented  to  be  a  strong,  healthy 
child,  with  good  lungs,  which  enabled  her  to  be  heard,  and  to 
demand  attention  from  her  nurses.  I  judged  from  this  de- 
scription of  Baby  C.  that  she  had  not  as  yet  had  an  out  of 
door  airing.  Nor  had  she  been  tossed  about  in  what  I  con- 
sidered the  rational  way  to  treat  a  baby.  In  referring  to 
Baby  Cleveland,  I  would  not  be  understood  as  criticising 
Mrs.  Cleveland's  physician.  As  a  rule,  the  attending  physi- 
cian has  little  to  do  with  the  newly  born  infant,  which  is 
usually  given  into  the  hands  of  the  nurse,  professional,  or 
otherwise,  who  establishes  herself  immediately  as  its  doctor, 
in  fact,  not  to  be  interfered  with  either  by  physician  or  par- 
ents. The  old  adage,  "A  little  learning  is  a  dangerous 
thing,"  may,  as  a  rule,  be  applied  to  the  professional  nurse, 
and  no  one  realizes  this  fact  more  thoroughly  than  does  the 
physician  of  today. 

But  we  will  now  return  to  the  new-born  infant,  where 
we  are  to  begin  our  discipline.  To  better  illustrate  my  views 
I  will  outline  the  case  of  a  baby  boy,  who  came  into  my  care 
just  eight  weeks  ago  yesterday  morning.  When  baby  John 
came  into  the  world,  I  wrapped  him  in  flannel,  and  laid  him 
on  a  pillow  that  had  been  warmed  with  hot  bottles,  for  his 


SoMi:  OK  IIicR  LiFK  Experiences,  :',U7 

reception.  I  heard  nothing'  from  him  for  half  an  hour,  dur- 
ing which  time  his  mother  had  been  made  comfortable.  I 
then  examined  my  little  charge,  and  found  a  baby  boy  of 
seven  and  one-half  pounds,  quite  thin  in  flesh,  I  anointed 
him  with  vaseline,  and  returned  him  to  his  warm  nest,  where 
he  remained  till  7  a,  m,  without  being  heard  from — he  hav- 
ing been  born  at  3  :30  that  morning.  Finding  that  his  kidneys 
and  bowels  had  failed  to  act,  I  was  compelled  to  resort  to 
medicine.  Since  the  fourth  day  his  kidneys  have  performed 
their  normal  function,  but  the  bowels  still  require  daily  at- 
tention. At  9  a,  m,  I  undress  the  little  gentleman,  toss  him 
about  for  eight  or  ten  minutes,  then  rub  him  thoroughly 
with  my  hands.  Then  relieve  his  bowels  with  an  enema. 
Then  rub  him  off  with  a  damp  sponge.  Again  stimulate  his 
body  with  my  hands^  and  he  is  ready  to  be  dressed  "for  the 
day,.  At  6  p.  m,  he  is  undressed,  and  thoroughly  exercised 
for  five  or  ten  minutes.  Then  he  is  laid  in  his  bath,  w'ith  his 
head  resting  on  a  large  sponge,  and  allowed  to  enjoy  the 
warm  water  for  five  or  ten  minutes,  after  which  he  is  thor- 
oughly anointed  and  rubbed,  dressed,  and  then  ready  for 
his  supper  and  a  good  night's  sleep. 

You  may  ask :  "Why  do  you  defer  the  bath  till  night  ?" 
I  answer,  because  a  bath  produces  a  soporific  eft'ect,  by  caus- 
ing a  free  flow  of  the  blood  to  the  surface,  thus  relieving  the 
brain,  and  producing  peaceful  and  refreshing  sleep.  Night 
is  the  time  for  sleep,  and  the  child  should  be  trained,  through 
such  methods,  to  sleep  at  night. 

Since  our  baby,  John,  was  four  days  old,  he  has  been  given 
an  out  of  door  airing  every  day,  rain  or  shine.  He  has  felt 
the  rain  drops  more  than  once  on  his  little  face,  yet  he  has 
never  had  a  cold,  or  the  colic  up  to  this  writing.  You  will 
readily  understand  that  he  has  inherited  constipation,  and 
nothing  but  persistent  and  regular  attention  to  this  defect 
will  ever  enable  his  system  to  overcome  this  weakness. 

Whenever  the  day  is  fine,  he  has  from  one  to  three  hours' 


398  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

sleep  in  the  open  air.  Before  he  was  one  week  old,  my  little 
6-yearH3ld  grandson,  Victor,  hauled  baby  John  about  the 
lawn  in  his  little  wagon,  and  carried  him  across  thf  room  in 
his  arms  many  times.  Now,  at  eight  weeks  old,  we  have  a 
strong,  vigorous  baby,  weighing  thirteen  pounds,  able  to 
bear  his  full  weight  on  his  feet,  sit  bolt  upright  in  your  lap, 
and  pull  himself  up  by  his  hands. 

But  our  ex-president  could  not  be  trusted  to  take  his  little 
girl  in  his  strong  arms !  Children  are  not  so  easily  hurt  as 
is  commonly  supposed.  Their  little  limbs  are  too  firmly  at- 
tached to  their  bodies  to  drop  off  readily,  nor  are  their  bones 
easily  broken.  Like  the  young  limbs  of  growing  trees,  they 
will  bend  almost  double  without  breaking.  I  cannot  lay 
too  much  stress  upon  the  necessity  of  exercise,  especially 
out  of  doors,  for  babies.  It  is  my  opinion  that  no  class  of 
humanity  suffers  so  much  for  want  of  proper  exercise  as  do 
infants,  during  the  first  year  and  a  half  of  their  little  helpless 
lives.  Children  and  invalids,  above  all,  should  have  the  ben- 
efit of  pure  air  and  sunshine.  If  your  baby  is  fretful,  lay 
aside  your  work,  and  take  it  for  a  walk.  .The  time  will  not 
be  lost.  Children,  like  young  plants  and  flowers,  thrive  in 
the  sunshine.  Their  little  bodies  also  require  vigorous  rub- 
bing and  manipulation  to  give  their  muscles  strength  and 
tonicity.  The  blood  is  the  food  of  the  tissues,  and  it  must 
obtain  oxygen  from  pure  air.  Frequent  bathing  is  also  nec- 
essary, as  the  skin  requires  stimulation  to  assist  it  to  per- 
form its  normal  functions.  The  man  who  works  shoveling 
coal  does  not  for  his  health's  sake,  need  bathing  so  fre- 
quently as  does  the  gentleman  in  his  broadcloth,  who  sits 
all  day  writing  at  his  desk.  The  one  has  strong,  active 
muscles,  and  prespires  freely  at  his  work,  while  the  other 
lacks  vigor  and  physical  strngth,  for  the  want  of  such  exer- 
cise as  will  enable  his  skin  to  do  its  normal  work.  The 
Emperor   of   Germany   has   recently   decreed   that   physical 


SoivTic  f)F  Hr-:i<  I>ikk  r:xi'Ri<ir-:NCES,  -".00 

culture  shall  be  tau.t^ht  in  all  I  lie  ])iil)lic  scIiodIs  in  his  empire, 
in  the  interest  of  ^-ood  soldiership. 

The  methods  of  rearing  children  today  dilTer  greatly  from 
those  of  Puritan  times.  Those  were  dark  days  for  children, 
and  Sunday,  of  all  days,  was  most  dreaded  by  them,  for  on 
that  day  they  were  not  permitted  even  to  play  in  the  open 
air,  or  enjoy  any  active  physical  exercise.  "Spare  the  rod 
and  spoil  the  child,"  was  the  rule  then  adhered  to,  taken 
in  strictly  literal  sense.  Today  Christianity  spreads  her 
white  wings,  and  hovers  over  our  little  ones  with  love  and 
sympathy.  The  most  vital  question  now  is  how  to  best  care 
for  and  train  our  children ;  and  I  am  proud  to  say  that  this 
question  has  been  brought  into  its  present  prominence  mainly 
by  the  earnest  efiforts  of  the  mothers  themselves. 

In  this  short  talk  I  can  only  touch  upon  some  of  the  most 
important  points  that  should  be  constantly  kept  in  mind  by 
those  having  charge  of  children,  who  are  verily  marvelous 
little  creatures  of  imitation.  It  is  simply  wonderful  how  fast 
they  develop,  and  how  quickly  they  contract  habits  for  good 
or  evil.  Yes,  and  how  tenaciously  they  cling  to  such  habits. 
I  consider  the  kindergarten  system  for  the  training  of  very 
young  children  to  be  one  of  the  best,  if  not  the  best,  inaug- 
urated. It  takes  the  little  ones  from  the  mother's  arms,  and 
teaches  them,  through  a  most  gentle  system,  how  to  do  a 
thousand  beautiful  and  essential  things,  and  the  charming 
part  of  it  is  that  its  work  is  made  so  like  play  that  the  chil- 
dren love  it  as  they  do  play,  which  to  them  is  always  absorb- 
ing, and  full  of  pleasure. 

Children  fairly  drink  in  their  environment,  and  therefore, 
they  should  be  surrounded  with  an  atmosphere  of  refinement 
and  honesty.  A  child's  first  impressions  take  such  deep  root, 
and  their  influencces  are  so  far  reaching  that  they  form  the 
very  foundation  of  its  character.  Hence  the  paramount 
necessity  of  saying  and  doing  the  right  thing  in  their  pres- 
ence, for  vour  children  will  do  as  father  and  mother  do. 


400  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

It  is  useless  for  parents  to  expect  their  children  to  do  right, 
if  they  do  wrong.  No  amount  of  counsel  will  counteract 
their  own  bad  example.  I  have  heard  parents  say,  "Do  as  I 
tell  you,  not  as  I  do." 

The  prime  secret  of  controlling"  children,  is  to  control 
yourself.  They  are  like  mirrors,  true  reflectors,  and  this 
is  well,  for  they  often  act  as  a  rebuke  and  a  reminder  to  the 
parent  to  keep  in  the  path  of  rectitude.  Parents  are,  and 
must  ever  be  examples  to  their  children.  It  is  a  law  of  their 
being — God's  law. 

To  my  mind,  no  place  equals  the  country  for  the  best 
growth  and  development  of  children,  where  there  are  so 
many  sources  of  instruction  and  improvement,  coupled  with 
innocent  enjoyment,  and  comparatively  few  of  evil.  The 
birds ;  the  flowers ;  the  trees  and  green  grass,  the  fowls  and 
other  animals,  are  all  a  never  ending  source  of  pleasure  and 
deep  interest.  Childhood  has  its  dreams,  its  air  castles  and 
ideals. 

Children  live  in  a  world  of  their  own,  and  always  in  per- 
petual sunshine.  Days  seem  to  them  as  years  to  us;  and 
when  they  look  forward  to  man  or  womanhood,  it  is  almost 
like  looking  into  eternity. 

Give  them  time  for  frolic  and  play,  and  do  not  try  to  make 
"grown-ups"  of  them  too  soon. 

It  is  a  noticeable  fact  that  a  great  majority  of  our  great 
men  and  women  have  been  born  and  reared  in  the  country. 
It  is  equally  true  that  country  boys  and  girls  carry  off  the 
first  prizes  from  our  military  high  schools  and  colleges.  Chil- 
dren should  never  be  discouraged ;  better  say  many  words  of 
praise  than  one  of  blame.  Be  firm  with  them,  but  not  stern. 
Teach  them  that  they  are  essential  to  your  happiness.  Enter 
into  all  their  joys  and  sorrows.  Take  them  into  your  confi- 
dence, and  make  them  your  daily  companions.  Children 
should  bask  in  the  sunshine  of  love.     They  are  sweet  buds 


Some  ok  IIi:k  Life  Experiences.  401 

of  promise,  and  they  will  blossom  aiifl  bear  fruit  accorclinj^  to 
the  soil,  and  the  nourishment  they  receive  frf)m  the  parent 
stock. 

HOW  TO  BE  STRONG  AND  WELL.       PHYSICAL  CULTURE. 

Editor  Astorian : 

In  compliance  with  your  request  to  furnish  an  article 
occasionally,  I  submit  the  followinp^  paper,  prepared  and  de- 
livered before  the  Mother's  meeting,  held  yesterday  in  this 
city : 

,  "This  is  an  age  of  education  and  reform,  as  well  as  of  in- 
vention, and  it  is  but  fitting  that  the  development  and  beauti- 
fying of  our  physical  being,  our  bodies,  should  receive  due 
attention.  It  has  been  stated  on  good  authority,  that  it  is  an 
exception  to  see  a  thoroughly  erect,  well-pproportioned, 
graceful  man.  And  the  same  is  true  of  women.  We  can 
partly  account  for  this  through  the  various  occupations  in 
which  men  and  women  are  employed,  no  one  of  which  will 
uniformly  develop  all  the  various  sets  of  muscles  of  the  body. 
But  the  lack  of  any  occupation  is  most  detrimental  to  both 
our  physical  and  mental  health. 

Today,  converts  to  physical  culture  are  numerous,  and  the 
idea  is  fast  spreading  outside  of  colleges  for  boys. 

In  most  of  our  large  cities  may  be  found  many  classes  for 
physical  culture,  especially  for  ladies  and  girls.  Parents,  too, 
are  beginning  to  realize  that  to  rear  beautiful  children,  they 
must  attend  well  to  their  physical  training,  as  to  the  men- 
tal. Emerson  says :  "Elegance  of  form  in  the  human  figure 
marks  some  excellence  of  structure."  Any  increase  of  fit- 
ness to  its  end  in  any  fabric  or  organism  is  an  increase  of 
beauty.  Look  at  the  famous  the  Venuses,  the  Junos,  the 
Minervas,  the  Helens  of  mythology  and  medieval  times.  All 
alike  have  the  well  developed  arms  and  shoulders,  the  full 
chest,  the  vigorous,  uncomoressed  body,  and  the  firm,  e^ect 
carriage.     No  stooped  shoulders,  or  pinched  waists.     That 


402  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

same  vigorous  exercise  and  untrammeled  dress  will,  withoi-it 
doubt,  bring  it  out  again.  Less  than  twenty-five  years  ago, 
Sebastian  Fenzi,  son  of  a  Florence  banker,  built  a  gymnasium 
at  his  own  expense  in  that  city.  He  preached  gymnastics  to 
senators  and  deputies,  to  municipal  councilors,  and  also  to 
the  crowned  heads.  He  carefully  inculcated  its  advantages 
on  all  mothers  of  families,  as  likely  to  increase,  to  a  remark- 
able extent  the  charms  of  their  daughters.  And  as  far  as  his 
own  domestic  relations  went,  his  theories  were  not  contra- 
dicted, for  he  was  the  father  of  the  most  beautiful  woman 
in  Italy. 

•  From  that  small  beginning  the  movement  has  spread  from 
city  to  city,  and  is  now  being  extensively  studied,  practised 
and  appreciated. 

I  believe  that  through  physical  culture  women  may  equal 
men  in  bodily  strength  and  endurance.  In  proof,  I  might 
point  you  to  the  amazons  of  South  America,  the  fish-women 
of  Europe,  or  the  Indian  women  of  our  own  country ;  or,  go 
to  the  circus,  and  observe  the  feats  performed  there  by  the 
women  on  trapezes,  in  all  cases  equalling  those  of  men.  See 
how  their  well  developed  muscles  stand  out  strong  and  rigid 
on  their  beautifully  molded  limbs,  while  they  are  performing 
some  of  their  wonderful  feats  of  strength. 

We  find  proof  of  our  statement  of  this  subject  in  many  in- 
dividual cases.  Look  at  Gladstone,  far  up  in  eighty,  and 
note  how,  in  addition  to  the  wonderful  amount  of  mental 
labor  he  is  daily  accomplishing ;  he  finds  time  to  take  long 
.  walks,  and  vigorous  out  door  exercise  with  his  ax;  for  he 
well  knows  that  upon  his  physical  strength  depends  his  use- 
fulness as  well  as  his  life.  Gladstone  is  not  the  only  stirring 
example.  It  was  the  habit  of  Charles  Dickens  to  walk  from 
seven  to  twelve  miles  daily,  during  the  time  when  he  was 
writing  his  masterly  works.  Napoleon  sat  for  whole  days  in 
the  saddle  during  his  military  and  strategic  maneuvers. 

During  the  walking  craze,  a  few  years  ago,  Mr.  Thomas. 


SuMJi   OF   iiliU   Lli'Ii   Exi'IiRlENCES.  403 

Cary^  of  New  York,  uj^cd  (>!,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Marsh,  of 
Connecticut,  walked  three  and  one-half  days,  Mr.  Cary 
walking  311  miles,  and  Mr.  Marsh  20'.)  miles.  These  men, 
as  you  see,  averaged  sixty  miles  a  day  f(jr  three  and  one-half 
days,  thus  showing  what  men  can,  and  ought  to  he  able  to 
do  at  that  advanced  age. 

Their  feat  surprised  the  whole  country,  and  yet  it  should 
not  have  done  so. 

The  main  reason  why  men  neglect  daily  vigorous  exercise 
after  middle  life,  is  because  they  become  engrossed  in  busi- 
ness, giving  to  it  all  their  time  and  attention,  and  forgetting 
and  neglecting  themselves. 

This  negclct  soon  brings  loss  of  muscular  activity ;  the 
joints  become  stiff  and  uncomfortable,  for  the  lack  of  lubri- 
cation, and  will  grate  and  creak  as  he  walks ;  and  the  man 
of  from  50  to  GO  is  daily  reminded  that  he  is  growing  old, 
and  must  take  the  best  care  of  himself;  to  him  this  means 
less  bodily  exertion,  and  more  methodical  habits.  Therefore 
he  rises  in  the  morning,  moves  slowly,  reads  the  paper,  takes 
breakfast  and  goes  to  his  work,  to  which  he  gives  his  undi- 
vided attention,  often  not  taking  time  for  luncheon. 

He  goes  home  at  five  or  six;  sits  down  to  a  good,  strong 
dinner;  is  hungry,  and  does  justice  to  the  good  meal  that 
has  been  prepared  for  him,  forgetting  that  his  neglected 
stomach  should  be  consulted  as  to  the  amount  it  receives. 
As  soon  as  the  process  of  digestion  sets  in,  he  begins  to  feel 
uncomfortable  and  unbuttons  his  waistcoat.  His  children 
disturb  him ;  he  cannot  get  down  and  roll  over  the  floor  with 
them  and  play  hide  and  seek,  and  he  is  too  uncomfortable 
to  enjoy  their  little  games.  He  seeks  a  comfortable  position, 
and  reads  till  ten  or  eleven  o'clock.  This  mode  of  life  not 
only  brings  on  an  abnormal  increase  of  fat,  but  is  mother  to 
a  whole  train  of  ailments. 

He  does  not  seem  to  understand  that  the  human  machin- 
ery, composed  of  flesh  and  blood,  and  bone,  and  driven  by 


404  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

the  human  heart,  is  similar  to  the  iron  and  steel  engine, 
driven  by  electricity  or  steam.  If  let  alone,  our  joints  become 
stiff  and  useless.  Physicians  all  know  that  if  the  arm  is 
strapped  up  for  only  a  few  months,  the  joints  will  become 
anchylosed,  or  stift"ened;  the  muscles  will  become  soft  and 
flabby;  the  arm  will  lose  plumpness  and  beauty,  and  be- 
come finally  useless. 

That  old  adage:  "Better  to  wear  out  than  rust  out,'' 
should  be  pasted  on  every  wall,  in  blazing  letters. 

The  hinges  and  joints  of  the  human  body  do  exactly  the 
same  thing,  and  serve  precisely  the  same  purpose,  as  do 
those  of  the  iron  and  steel  engine,  and  like  the  engine,  they 
require  frequent  oiling.  But  beautiful  and  efflcient  as  the 
steel  engine  may  be,  it  can  never  attain  to  the  perfection  of 
the  human  engine.  The  one  was  invented  and  constructed 
by  man,  and  needs  constant  oiling  and  care  to  keep  it  bright. 
But  the  human  machine  is  the  work  of  God,  and  he  has  pro- 
vided wonderfully  for  its  preservation.  The  membranes 
which  surround  our  joints  secrete,  or  manufacture  their 
own  lubricating  fluid ;  and  at  each  motion  this  fluid  is  poured 
out  over  the  bones  and  surrounding  ligaments.  So,  unless 
the  manufacturing  tissues  are  stimulated  to  activity  b}^  mo- 
tion, they  will  fail  to  produce  the  required  material ;  their 
usefulness  will  cease,  or  become  impaired,  and  they  will  die 
for  want  of  employment. 

And  so  it  is,  and  ever  must  be,  with  every  organ  of  our 
body,  from  the  brain  to  the  most  inferior  muscle.  All  cry  out 
for  "Work,  work,  work.    Without  work  we  must  die." 

The  poet,  Bryant,  was  one  of  the  few  men  who  under- 
stood and  obeyed  this  law.  His  daily  habit  was  to  rise  early, 
from  half  past  three  to  four  in  the  summer,  and  from  five  to 
half  past  five  in  the  winter.  He  at  once  began  a  series  of 
exercises  without  the  encumbrance  of  clothes.  These  ex- 
ercises were  such  as  to  expand  the  chest,  to  strengthen  the 
muscles,  and  to  lubricate  the  joints.     These  morning  exer- 


Sdmic  oI'-  1Ii:i<  Lii"k  ICxi'Kkiknces.  405 

cises,  while  in  llic  cil)',  were  cuntiiiued  for  ;il  least  one  hour; 
while  in  the  counlry  ihcy  were  shortened  to  one-half  that 
time,  and  walks  of  from  six  to  ten  miles  were  indulged  in. 
When  asked  concerning-  his  daily  habits  Mr.  Bryant  wrote, 
at  77:  "I  have  reached  a  pretty  advanced  period  of  life 
without  the  usual  infirmities  of  old  age,  and  with  my 
strength,  activity  and  bodily  faculties  generally,  in  very  good 
preservation." 

Mr.  Boggs,  who  knew  Mr.  Bryant  intimately,  says  he 
was  a  great  walker.  "During  the  forty  years  I  have  known 
him,  he  was  never  ill,  never  confined  to  his  bed,  excepting 
on  the  occasion  of  his  last  accident  (a  broken  leg).  He  al- 
ways walked  from  his  house  to  his  place  of  business,  even 
in  his  eighty-fourth  year.  He  would  never  wait  for  the  ele- 
vator. He  was  very  fond  of  gymnastics.  He  performed 
various  feats  on  the  backs  of  chairs ;  hung  on  his  bedroom 
door,  lifting  himself  up  and  down  many  times;  skirmished 
about  the  room  in  all  fashions,  even  running  under  the  table." 
What  a  grand  lesson  this  great  man  has  left  us  as  a  legacy. 
His  life  is  a  shining  example  of  what  has  been  done,  and 
what  can  be  accomplished.  Many  other  worthy  examples 
might  be  mentioned,  but  this  must  sufBce  for  this  time. 
I  cannot  lay  down  specific  rules  for  exercise  or  physical 
culture;  it  would  require  too  much  space.  The  amount  and 
kind  of  exercise  depend  entirely  upon  the  person,  and  his 
condition;  but  there  is  one  general  rulejvhich  may  be  borne 
in  mind. 

"Exercise  should  begin  gradually,  and  increase  daily, 
never  overtaxing  the  strength." 

Out  of  door  exercise  is  especially  beneficial  for  the  various 
forms  of  nervous  diseases,  particularly  insomnia.  Certain 
muscular  exercises,  when  properly  taken,  are  soothing  to  the 
overtaxed  brain,  and  nervous  system.  This  is  easily  under- 
stood, when  we  consider  how  the  muscular  work  aids  in 
equalizing  the  circulation,  quickens  and  deepens  the  respira- 


406  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

tion,  and  improves  the  digestion,  as  well  as  the  functions  of 
all  the  vital  organs.  Then  sleep,  nature's  great  restorative, 
"Comes  like  the  benediction  that  follows  after  prayer." 

I  may  be  asked :  "How  early  should  this  physical  culture 
begin?" 

I  unhesitatingly  answer  :     "From  birth." 

The  little  infant  comes  to  us  helpless  and  at  the  mercy 
of  its  surroundings.  Perchance  it  may  be  deformed,  its  little 
limbs  crooked;  but  fortunately  for  the  little  treasure,  its 
bones  are  at  birth  mostly  composed  of  animal  matter,  and  by 
careful  manipulation  they  can  be  brought  into  shape.  If  all 
mothers  and  nurses  knew  how  easily  this  is  accomplished, 
and  were  properly  educated  to  the  work,  we  should  never  see 
bow-legged,  and  knock-kneed  men  walking  our  streets.  Chil- 
dren would  all  grow  up  with  beautiful  and  shapely  limbs. 
No  set  of  muscles  should  be  developed  at  the  expense  of 
others ;  all  should  have  an  equal  chance,  and  with  this  impar- 
tial treatment  would  come  a  perfect  form.  Adorn  that  form 
with  a  well-trained  heart,  and  educated  mind,  and  we  have 
God's  masterpiece.  May  that  time  soon  come,  is  our  earnest 
prayer. 


SoMi':  ()!■   Ili.K  I. II' I".  Experiences,  407 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

PILGRIM   MOTHERS. 

(Extract  from  an  address  delivered  by  Mrs.  Dr.  B.  A. 
Owens,  at  a  recent  "Lilicrty  Meeting.") 

Our  pilgrim  fathers  have  been  extolled  for  their  heroism, 
their  sacrifices,  and  their  wonderful  endurance.  Generation 
after  generation  is  referred  to  the  customs  of  the  pilgrim 
fathers  as  examples  of  industry,  economy  and  sound  mor- 
ality. Two  centuries  have  passed  away,  and  interest  in  the 
lives  and  times  of  our  pilgrim  fathers  does  not  abate  one  jot 
or  tittle.  Should  we  hear  of  a  stalwart  New  Englander,  we 
are  apt  to  hear  further,  that  he  is  of  the  old  "Pilgrim  stock." 

This  is  sufficient  to  pass  him  into  all  respectable  society. 

The  pilgrim  fathers  were  masters,  and  well  did  they  carve 

out  their  fortunes.    True,  these  men  founded  a  proper  democ- 

\  rac)^,  and  made  equal  laws  for  the  general  good,  and  they 

well  deserve  the  praise  given  to  them. 

But  what  of  the  pilgrim  mothers  ?  Have  their  labors  and 
virtues  been  of  less  Avorth  to  our  nation?  Yet  little,  com- 
paratively, has  been  written  of  woman.  Her  position  and 
relation  in  life  are  admitted,  but  seldom  praised.  It  is  not 
a  matter  of  much  concern  to  the  world,  as  it  reasons  now,  if 
woman  is  not  noticed  beyond  her  domestic  relations,  though 
it  is  generally  admitted  today  that  woman  is  equally  as  strong 
in  adversity  as  man.  She  endures  more,  and  is  as  patient  in 
her  afflictions  as  in  her  faith.  It  seems  to  be  the  nature  of 
every  true  woman  to  feel  that  her  life  is  providentially 
guided.  And  all  the  great  purposes  and  deeds  of  our  pilgrim 
mothers  were  built  on  their  faith  in  Divine  Providence.  It 
is  hardly  necessary  to  picture  in  detail  the  privations  and 
persecutions  which  drove  these  people  from  their  old  world 


408  Dr.  Owens -Adair. 

homes.  Indeed,  these  occurrences  constitute  one  of  those 
important  events  in  history  that  mark  the  world's  progress. 

Repression  of  freedom  of  thought,  and  action,  especially 
in  matters  of  conscience,  induced  the  step  taken  by  the  pil- 
grims to  better  their  condition  and  improve  their  minds.  The 
world  applauds  the  desire  for  freedom  of  thought  and 
speech,  which  was  no  more  desirable  in  those  days  than  now. 
The  cunning  devices  of  designing  men  still  cramp  and 
dwarf  the  intellect  of  the  multitude  in  some  parts  of  the 
world,  and  make  superstition  oppressive,  though  it  is  not  so 
patiently  borne  now  as  it  then  was. 

The  pilgrims  felt  this  weight  resting  on  them,  and  were 
too  noble  of  nature  to  suffer  it.  They  loved  God  even  more 
than  they  feared  Him.  They  desired  to  live  near  Him,  and 
no  sacrifices  were  too  great  to  be  made  for  their  advance- 
ment in  their  Master's  service.  When  I  speak  of  the  prin- 
ciples and  causes  that  forced  the  pilgrims  to  seek  the  new 
world,  I  speak  equally  of  both  sexes,  believing,  as  I  do,  that 
the  heroic  life-current  that  coursed  through  their  arterial 
system  was  not  only  morally  pure,  but  was  in  quality  iden- 
tically the  same. 

The  heroism  of  these  brave  women  lay,  not  so  much  in 
their  privations  and  suffering  in  coming  to  America,  as  in 
their  determination  to  be  free  in  body  and  soul  from  oppres- 
sion. Though  they  saw  poverty  "Coming  upon  them,  like 
an  armed  man,"  they  shrank  not.  Therefore  we  regard  the 
pilgrim  mothers  in  no  less  honor  than  the  pilgrim  fathers. 
If  these  men  framed  the  work  of  civil  government  in  Amer- 
ica, their  wives  raised  pillars  of  moral  grandeur  to  sustain 
it.  If  the  fathers  founded  an  asylum  for  those  who  would 
go  to  the  wilderness  for  the  sake  of  purity  and  freedom  in 
religion,  it  was  the  mothers  who  proved  the  sisters  of 
mercy  who,  in  their  lives  of  self-sacrifice  showed  the  depth 
and  efficacy  of  faith. 

If  these  pilgrim  fathers  through  want,  peril,  and  every 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  '10;> 

self-denial,  found  a  spot  in  exile,  where  all  men  couUl  enjoy 
freedom  of  thought,  and  liberty  of  conscience,  and  the  fear- 
less expression  of  the  same,  it  was  the  pilgrim  mothers  who 
gave  to  the  world  those  who  should  perpetuate  these  virtues 
to  future  generations. 

And  well  has  this  been  exemplified  throughout  our  nation's 
history.  We  have  but  to  look  in  any  or  all  the  avenues  of 
life,  to  find  faithful  and  loyal  women  laboring  early  and  late 
for  the  advancement  and  purification  of  humanity  and  their 
country. 

Throughout  our  nation's  history,  woman's  services  and 
loyalty  have  been  equal  to  that  of  man,  deserve  equal  recog- 
nition^ and  should  receive  equal  praise. 

THE   ADVANCEMENT    OF   WOMEN. 

SHALL  GIRLS  BE  TAUGHT   SELF-SUPPORT?    REMARKABLE   PROG- 
RESS IN  NEW  OCCUPATIONS  FOR  V/OMEN.    PUBLIC 
OPINION    HAS    CHANGED. 

By  Dr.   Owens-Adair. 

The  mothers'  meeting  at  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  rooms  yesterday 
was  conducted  by  j\'Irs.  Dr.  Owens-Adair,  M.  D.,  who  read 
the  following  thoughtful  paper  on  the  topic,  "Shall  Girls 
Be  Taught  Self-Support?" 

The  question,  I  believe,  is  "shall  girls  be  taught  self-sup- 
port?" In  this  19th  century,  I  think  the  great  majority  of 
thinking  men  and  women  would,  without  hesitation,  answer 
in  the  affirmative.  Only  a  few  years  ago  this  w^as  an  open 
question ;  but  the  successes  wdiich  large  numbers  of  women 
have  obtained  in  various  occupations,  during  recent  years, 
has  converted  a  large  majority  of  the  American  people  to 
the  belief  that  girls  should  be  given  equal  chances  in  the 
battle  of  life  with  their  brothers.  Witness  on  our  own 
coast,  the  Universities  of  California,  both  professional  and 
literary,  including  the  grand  Leland  Stanford,  Jr.,  Univer- 


410  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

sity,  at  Palo  Alto.  In  all  of  those  spelndid  universities,  girls 
are  admitted  on  the  same  footing,  and  have  the  same  chances 
with  boys.  And  Oregon  and  Washington  are  not  behind 
California  in  opening  their  doors  to  their  girls. 

Less  than  half  a  century  ago,  there  were  but  few  ways 
in  which  women  could  earn  a  respectable  living;  and  those 
few  were  hedged  about  with  many  obstacles ;  the  question 
being  the  supposed  greatly  superior  intelligence  and  ability 
of  man  over  woman.  College  doors  and  universities  were 
closed  against  her,  but  as  remarked,  recent  years  have 
changed  those  conditions,  until  now  that  question  is  no 
longer  debatable.  Experience  has  taught  that  girls  do  make 
efficient  "bread-winners." 

It  was  always  held  that  woman  was  made  for  man,  but 
whether  or  .no  man  was  made  for  woman  was  not  conceded 
until  the  Anglo-Saxon  woman  proved  herself  as  capable,  as 
willing,  and  as  intelligent  as  her  brother.  Then  the  question 
was  solved  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned. 

SUBSTANTIAL  PROGRESS. 

During  the  last  half  century,  woman  has  made  most  won- 
derful progress.  She  has  sucessfuUy  dredged  out  every 
channel  through  which  the  advocates  and  practicers  of  self- 
support  may  pass  on  to  fame  and  fortune.  She  has,  step  by 
step,  fitted  herself  to  occupy  positions  of  honor  and  trust  in 
almost  every  trade  and  profession  now  known.  She  has 
broken  down  the  bars  of  prejudice,  and  drawn  aside  the  cur- 
tain of  opposition,  thus  letting  in  the  sunlight  of  reason, 
which  has  placed  her  where  she  justly  belongs,  by  the  side 
of  her  brother  man  in  the  strenuous  battle  of  life.  Today 
there  are  few  obstacles  put  in  the  way  of  Avomen  as  "bread- 
winners." Go  where  you  choose,  and  you  will  find  woman 
occupying  positions  of  honor  and  trust.  Her  hands  and  her 
brains  are  being  carefully  educated  to  do  that  which  they 
"find  to  do,"  and  to  do  it  well.    It  seems  remarkable,  yet  it  is 


SOMK    OF   ITkU    T.IF'K    Exi'KRIKNCRS.  HI 

true,  that  this  j^rcrit  ch.-ins^^c  in  woman's  conrhtion  has  been 
brought  about  within  my  own  memory. 

Less  than  twenty  years  ago  a  Httle  band  of  brave  and 
earnest  women  were  "rotten-egged"  at  Blockley  Hospital, 
in  broad  dayhght,  in  the  old,  staid  city  of  Philadelphia.  And 
for  what  was  this  done?  Their  crime  was  that  they  were 
trying  to  fit  themselves  for  the  practice  of  medicine  to  alle- 
viate pain  and  suffering,  and  thereby  earn  for  themselves 
honorable  self-support.  You  can  readily  see  that  it  required 
a  brave  woman,  even  at  that  recent  date,  to  declare  her  inten- 
tention  to  study  medicine.  I,  myself,  studied  in  secret  for 
several  years.  To  do  so  openly  made  a  woman  the  subject 
of  public  ridicule,  and  she  was  regarded  as  deserving  of 
severe  public  criticism.  There  was  scarcely  a  newspaper  in 
the  land  that  did  not  delight  in  holding  her  up  as  a  "strong- 
minded  nuisance,"  a  "mannish  woman"  and  such-like  de- 
testable expressions.  How  often  has  it  been  said,  "No  mod- 
est, or  refined  woman  would  study  medicine."  The  doors 
of  all  medical  schools  were  closed  against  her ;  but  slurs  and 
opposition  only  strengthened  her  desires,  and,  with  an  irre- 
sistible will  and  determination,  she  rose  up  in  her  strength, 
and  builded  medical  schools  for  herself. 

As  in  the  medical  profession,  so  has  it  been  in  all  others ; 
and  in  the  various  avocations  of  life,  women  have  won  the 
right  to  enter  them  by  proving  her  fitness  for  them.  Thus, 
step  by  step,  she  has  paved  her  way  by  her  good  works,  to 
her  present  position ;  proving  to  the  world  her  capability  for 
self-support  through  the  various  channels  of  industry,  until 
today  we  find  thousands  of  modest,  refined,  and  most  hon- 
orable women  earning  their  bread  in  all,  or  nearly  all  the 
callings  of  honest  labor.  You  find  them  in  our  great  bank- 
ing-houses, publishing  companies,  wholesale  and  retail 
stores,  telegraph  ofitices,  insurance,  lawyers'  and  newspaper 
offices,  and  in  each  and  all  of  these  positions,  giving  full  sat- 
isfaction ; — showing,  by  their  ability  as  managers  or  prin- 


412  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

cipals  in  business,  by  their  success,  and  in  earning  the  esteem 
and  confidence  of  their  superiors  where  employed,  by  their 
zeal,  accuracy,  and  capacity  for  their  work.  And  yet,  wom- 
an is  not  fully  educated  up  to  a  proper  appreciation  of  the 
dignity  of  labor.  She  is  just  beginning,  however,  to  learn 
that  to  succeed,  she  must  apply  herself  faithfully  and  dili- 
gently to  her  work,  whatever  it  may  be.  The  common  belief 
is  that  certain  kinds  of  labor,  especially  housework,  are  de- 
grading, or,  to  put  it  more  mildly,  not  genteel ;  and  out  of 
door  work  is  a  man's  work,  and,  therefore,  objectionable. 
These  are  false  ideas,  and  decidedly  un-American.  Labor 
should  always  reflect  credit  and  honor  upon  its  author,  and  it 
will  do  so,  if  properly  performed.  Your  motto  should  be :  *T 
will  do,  and  do  well,  whatever  my  hands  find  to  do." 

Only  a  very  few  of  the  great  army  of  men  who  graduate 
in  medicine,  or  law,  make  eminent  doctors,  or  excel  mark- 
edly as  lawyers,  and  so  it  will  be  with  women.  Some  have 
capacity  for  one  profeession,  and  some  for  another.  Girls 
should  endeavor,  with  the  aid  of  friends,  to  make  a  proper 
selection  of  their  "life  calling,"  suited  to  their  tastes  and 
capacities.  The  worship  of  money  and  dress,  coupled  with 
the  fear  of  not  getting  into  good  society,  greatly  retards 
woman's  usefulness.  She  should  early  be  taught  the  wise 
lessons  that  the  best  society  for  her  is  always  within  her 
reach.  Depending  on  her  calling,  she  will  enjoy  the  society 
of  those  who  are  the  builders  and  workers  in  our  busy  world. 
But  if  she  has  no  means  of  support  except  that  of  "catching 
a  husband,"  she  is  likely  to  prove  an  unhappy  wife,  although 
she  be  a  leader  of  fashion.  The  Princess  of  Wales,  fully  ap- 
preciating these  facts,  has  set  a  most  worthy  example  before 
the  women  of  Great  Britain,  in  that  she  has  taught  her 
daughters  thoroughly  the  art  of  housekeeping,  in  its  various 
departments,  including  cooking,  and  butter-making.  She 
has  done  this,  not  only  as  an  example  to  other  mothers  of 
her  kingdom,  but  as  her  duty  to  her  daughters.     Both  she 


Some  of  Her  I.iee  Experiences.  413 

and  her  dau.t^litcis  dress  much  in  cotton  fabrics.  She  has 
always  shown  much  interest  in  workinj^  }^ii"ls,  and  one  of  her 
stronp^est  desires  has  been  to  build  a  suitaljle  home  in  Lon- 
don for  such  ^irls.  From  this  idea  grew  the  Alexandra 
House,  in  Kcnsing-ton ;  and  from  this  bej:^inning,  many  other 
similar  houses  have  been  built  in  that  city.  I  have  seen  it 
stated  in  ])rint  recently  that  there  are  several  tliousand  more 
working  women  in  London  than  working  men.  This  is  also 
true  of  the  older  cities  in  our  own  country. 

WORK  IS  honorable. 

Our  girls  should  be  taught  that  work  is  honorable,  and  a 
real  blessing  to  life.  By  the  way,  our  boys  need  large  doses 
of  this  same  medicine.  I  do  not  know  a  more  pitiful  object 
than  a  grown  man  or  woman  with  nothing  to  do,  and  plenty 
of  time  to  do  it  in.  For  such  a  person,  life  has  no  savor,  no 
real  enjoyment ;  they  are  waifs,  adventurers  and  tramps ;  a 
burden  to  themselves,  and  a  curse  to  all  others.    . 

The  bread  we  earn  by  hard  toil  is  sweeter  far  than  that 
coming  as  a  gift  or  through  inheritance.  The  curse  of  Eden 
was,  under  disguise,  a  priceless  gift  from  God.  By  all  means 
teach  your  girls  not  to  be  ashamed  of  honest  labor.  Try  to 
study  their  capacities ;  their  likes  and  dislikes.  L^sually  what 
we  like  to  do  best  we  do  best.  To  the  mother,  again,  I  would 
say:  "See  to  it  that  your  girls  are  fitted  for  some  calling 
in  life,  by  the  use  of  which'  they  can  earn  an  honest  living, 
should  circumstances  require  it.  I  have  believed  for  many 
years  that  one  of  the  greatest  wrongs  parents  could  inflict 
upon  their  children  was  to  raise  them  in  ignorance  of  self- 
support." 

importance  of  health. 

As  a  physician.  I  cannot  close  my  remarks  wdthout  a  few 
words  upon  the  all-important  subject  of  the  health  of  your 
girls.  Do  not  neglect  this  vital  point.    Remember  that  health 


41-i  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

is  their  reserve  force ; — their  revenue,  to  be  drawn  upon  dur- 
ing all  their  lives.  Therefore  look  to  it  with  a  zealous  eye. 
A  few  suggestions  may  not  be  out  of  place.  To  begin, 
give  them  good,  nourishing  food.  Provide  them  with  warm, 
loose  clothing,  broad,  thick-soled  shoes,  low-heeled.  Teach 
them  to  breathe  and  sleep  correctly.  Breathing,  you  under- 
stand, should  be  done  through  the  nostrils,  and  not  through 
the  mouth.  The  most  healthy  sleep  is  obtained  on  the  side, 
and  in  a  moderately  straight  position  of  the  body.  Let  them 
be  taught  to  work,  to  run,  to  skate,  and  to  ride.  Give  them 
gymnastic  and  dumb-bell  practice,  and,  above  all^  plenty  of 
out-of-door  exercise,  winter  and  summer.  Thus  you  will  give 
them  health  and  strength,  and  prepare  them  for  their  best 
efforts  at  all  times. 

NEWSPAPER  COMMENTS. 

The  entertainment  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  last  night,  for  the 
benefit  of  the  reading-room,  was  attended  by  a  larger  crowd 
than  was  anticipated,  as  standing-room  was  at  par,  till  a 
large  number  of  extra  seats  were  brought  in. 

The  singing  of  Mr.  McDonald,  of  Portland,  was  excel- 
lent ;  but  the  principal  feature  of  the  evening  was  the  lecture 
on  "Heredity"  of  that  talented  lady,  Mrs.  Dr.  B.  A.  Owens, 
of  Portland.  The  whole  fabric  of  argument  and  illustration 
was  so  neatly  and  delicately  interwoven  that  it  would  be 
impossible  to  give  the  synopsis  «of  the  lecture,  and  we  are 
sorry  that  we  have  not  space  to  publish  it  in  full. 

The  speaker  fully  established  that  heredity  is  a  law  of 
nature,  and  that  the  bad,  as  well  as  the  good,  is  transmitted 
from  the  parents  to  the  offspring^  in  both  the  physical,  as 
well  as  the  mental  faculties. 

Mrs.  Owens  is  a  lady  of  rare  natural  talents,  and  of  vig- 
orous mental  faculties,  and  she  has  taken  the  advantage  of 
a  regular,  and  special  course  of  medical  training,  at  the  med- 
ical college  of  Ann  Arbor,  and,  added  to  this,  several  years 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  416 

of  successful  pnioticc, — hence  much  was  expected  from  her 
lecture  hist  ni.^Iit,  and  nunc  was  disappointed. 

Thanks  to  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  for  securing  so  popular  a  lec- 
turer. We  hope  this  is  only  a  beginning  of  a  series  of  able 
leclures,  a  rare  means  of  cultivation,  which  will  n-nder  the 
reading-room  ])Opular  at  once  and  will  be  of  incalculable 
benefit  to  its  patrons. 

One  sentence  which  the  speaker  uttered  last  evening 
should  be  placed  with  those  excellent  mottoes  on  the  walls  of 
the   reading-room,   and   that   sentence   is : 

"With  the  mind,  as  with  the  body, — to  cease  to  strive  is 
to  begin  to  die." — Salem  Statesman. 

Roseburg,  Or.,  April  2:3d,  1S8G. 
Mrs.  Dr.  Owens  Adair,  Portland,  Oregon : 
My  Dear  Madam : 

I  have  just  finished  your  essay  in  the  Prohibition  Star.  It 
is  excellent.  Allow  me  to  thank  you,  in  the  name  of  suffer- 
ing humanity,  for  that  excellent  production.  It  ought  to 
be  read  by  every  man  and  woman  that  has  entered,  or  con- 
templates entering  the  marital  relation,  who  should  ponder 
well  the  truths  therein  evolved,  and  so  ably  elucidated. 

"No  one  can  stand  still."  "We  must  go  up,  or  we  must 
go  down."  "Gradually,  but  surely,  yet  imperceptibly,  as 
time  rolls  on,  we  are  being  molded  into  new  forms, — yea, 
into  new  beings." 

Noble  words,  truthfully  said.  It  is  the  gospel  of  a  "New 
Dispensation."  I  thank  you  most  heartily  for  your  views, 
and  trust  to  hear  from  you  again,  in  a  like  lucid  manner  on 
that,  or  any  cognate  subject.  Pardon  my  enthusiasm,  but 
I  felt  constrained  to  congratulate  you;  therefore,  as  an  act 
of  justice  from  one  who  can,  and  does  appreciate  such  ef' 
forts  in  the  cause  of  suffering  humanity. 

With  much  esteem,  I  am  }-ours  fraternally, 

W.  F.  Benjamin. 

I  only  inserted  these  words  as  samples  of  the  whole,  for 
they  are  like  gems  in  a  necklace  of  pearls. 


41G  •  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

Portland,  Ore.,  April  2Tth,  1886. 
Mr.  W.  F.  Benjamin, 
Dear  Sir : 

I  received  your  kind,  congratulatory  letter  by  last  mail, 
and  I  assure  you  your  encouraging  words  were  appreciated, 
and  gratefully  received.  In  my  own  case,  I  know  that  I  need 
just  such  encouragement  to  assist  me  in  this  work.  My  in- 
herited diffidence,  or  want  of  a  proper  appreciation  of  my 
own  ability,  has  been  my  own  worst  enemy  to  success.  All 
my  work  in  my  departments  is  carried  on  under  great  dis- 
advantage, as  my  professsional  duties  demand  my  first  at' 
tention. 

Again  thanking  you  for  your  generous  appreciation,  I  am, 

dear  sir, 

Yours  sincerely,  in  this  good  work. 

EXTRACTS  FROM  AN  ADDRESS  BY  DR.  ADAIR  IN  DEFENSE  OF  THE 

NATIONAL  W.   C.  T.   U.   FOR  ENDORSING  THE 

PROHIBITION  PARTY. 

This  action  on  the  part  of  the  National  Union  caused  some 
dissension  among  the  local  unions,  and  this  the  old  parties, 
especially  the  Republicans,  seized  upon,  and  used  as  a  polit- 
ical club. 

I  wish  to  call  your  attention  to  a  few  facts  to  prove  that 
the  National  Union  unquestionably  did  right  in  endorsing 
the  Prohibition  party. 

First:  The  National  Union,  when  organized,  adopted  the 
following  pledge : 

'T  hereby  solemnly  promise,  God  helping  me,  to  abstain 
from  all  distilled,  fermented,  or  malt  liquors,  including  wine 
and  cider,  and  to  employ  and  to  use  all  proper  means  to  dis- 
courage the  use  of,  and  traffic  in  the  same." 

There  could  be  no  broader,  or  more  comprehensive  prom- 
ise than  this,  and  certainly  no  plainer  line  of  duty  could  be 
set  them  than  is  set  forth  by  this  pledge. 


Sn.Mi';   Ml'-    I  I  IK'    1, 1 1  I'.    lv\l'i;i<IENCES.  117 

'riu'ir  ;u-liiin,s  pnivcd  (•|'';iil\  llic  desire-  to  unite  all  the 
slate  mill  IDS,  lliereh)  i  ihiaininj^'  a  concerted  movement  for 
g;o(Kl,  I)t-lievin,L;  and  following'  tin-  old  adai^H',  "In  union  there 
is  streni^lh."" 

^'on  havt'  hnl  lo  stop  and  anal\ze  llu'  pledi^e,  and  you  will 
be  convinced  lliat  liiere  was  no  other  Cf)ursc  open  for  the 
National  LTnion  hut  to  endorse  the  third  party,  which  to  us 
seems  to  he  the  onl\-  means  lln'ouj^h  which  we  can  hope  to 
aholisli -this  accursed  tral'fic.  Think  of  it!  The  mayor  of 
Portland  said  the  other  day  :  "There  are  today,  in  our  city, 
at  least  .")<>()  alcoholized  men,  so  far  .yone  that  lhe_\-  rni|L,dit  to 
be  sent  to  a  home  for  the  cure  of  inebriates." 

My  friends,  this  is  truly  a  lamentable  condition  ;  and  yet 
we  are  no  worse  olT  than  other  cities  of  like  size.  It  is  only 
natural  that  we  should  be  shocked  by  what  occurs  about  us. 
I  realize  that  it  is  not  known  by  all  men,  that  the  annual 
drink  ])ill  of  our  people  footed  up,  for  the  year  1885,  to  the 
enormous  sum  of  $800,000, ()()(). 

We  are  asked  :  "Is  it  likely  that  this  great  national  curse 
can  be  strangled  by  the  rrohil)ition  party?"  I  answer  that 
there  is  practically  but  one  way  of  accomplishing-  any  great 
reform  in  our  country,  and  that  way  leads  through  the  bal- 
lot-box. Right  here,  let  me  tell  you  that  up  to  this  time, 
there  never  has  been  any  fair  trial  of  the  workings  of  prohi- 
bition— not  in  Kansas.  Iowa,  or  even  ]\Iaine :  for  what  have 
been  termed  prohibitory  laws  in  these  states,  have  been 
passed  by  one  or  the  other  of  the  old  parties,  and  have  not 
been  strictly  enforced  by  their  ofificials,  who  are  not  in  sym- 
pathy with  the  movement,  and  are  too  much  controlled  by 
the  whisky  element.  I  maintain  that  in  order  to  enforce 
prohibitory  laws  we  must  have  public  opinion  and  a  party 
behind  the  officials,  who  will  see  to  it  that  they  perform  their 
sworn  duty. 

The  National  Union  endorsed  the  third  party  by  '2ol  votes 
acainst  oo.    Remember  that  these  women  came  from  all  over 


418  Dr.  Owens -Adair. 

our  land,  and  represented  a  phalanx  of  over  two  hundred 
thousand  homes.  Such  support  cannot  be  easily  appreciated 
while  women  do  not  actually  vote,  yet  they  do  wield  a  power- 
ful influence.  The  truth  of  this  may  be  shown  by  the  gain 
of  the  third  party  in  the  last  two  years.  In  New  Jersey, 
Maryland,  Ohio,  West  Virginia,  Minnesota,  Nebraska  and 
Missouri,  the  Prohibition  vote  of  '8G  was  three  times  as  great 
as  in  '84;  while  Texas  cast  30,000,  as  against  3,554  in  '84, 
and  Arkansas  did  even  better. 


Some  of  Her  Life  Experiences.  419 


CHAPTER  X.\XT[. 

LETTEU.    lO    MRS.    \V.    W.    PARKER,    SECRliTARY    OF    THE    LOCAL 
\V.    C.    T.    U.    OF    ASTORIA,    OREGON. 

roiiland,  Ore.c^on,  Apr.  IT),  ISSo. 
My  Dear  Friend : 

Your  kind  and  welcome  letter  reached  me  last  evening. 
How  like  your  own  dear  self !  It  brought  back  many  mem- 
ories of  twenty  years,. and  more  ago.  And  yet  it  seems  but 
yesterday  since  we  were  studying  those,  to  me,  hard  les- 
sons in  the  little  school-house  on  the  hill.  How  well  I  re- 
member my  humiliation,  the  day  I  entered  the  school,  when 
I  had  to  go  down  into  the  primary  class  in  arithmetic.  And 
then  I  met,  and  learned  to  love  you  and  Helen,  and  I  am  free 
to  say  that  affection  has  never  diminished.  But  it  was  hard 
work  to  keep  envy  out  of  my  heart,  when  I  saw  how  bright 
you  were,  and  how  easy  it  was  for  you  to  learn.  Spelling 
seemed  to  be  second  nature  to  you,  while  to  me  everything 
came  so  hard !  And  so  it  is,  still.  Every  step  forward,  with 
me,  is  a  battle.  But  as  I  go  on,  my  victories  are  more  easily 
won,  and  each  adds  strength  to  determination. 

After  we  came  home  last  fall  from  our  "bridal  tour,"  I 
spent  several  days  looking  over,  and  culling  over  old  letters, 
saved  out  of  the  great  mass  of  communications  I  have  re- 
ceived during  the  last  twenty  years.  Among  these.  I  found 
packages  from  your  mother  and  yourself,  and  Helen.  Let- 
ters dating  back  to  my  Bruceport,  and  Oysterville  school- 
teaching  ;  oiu-  trip  to  San  Francisco,  Lafayette,  and  so  on. 
It  was  almost  like  a  new  revelation ;  for,  with  all  my  other 
defects,  I  am  especially  deficient  in  recalling  past  events. 

I  am  very  sorry  to  hear  of  your  poor  health,  but  hope  as 
you  grow  older,  you  ma}-  grow  stronger.     You  have  great 


4"-30  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

tenacity  of  life,  and  I  have  faith  that  you  will  be  spared 
many,  many  years  yet.  ]\Iy  health  is  as  usual,  extremely 
good,  and  now  that  I  have  a  husband  whom  I  love,  and  who 
is  devoted  to  me,  my  life  is,  indeed,  a  happy  one.  With  my 
past  life  of  hardship  and  constant  struggle,  it  is  indeed  a 
great  blessing  to  find  one  to  whom  you  can  at  all  times  turn 
for  consolation  and  advice.  Such  an  one  has  God,  in  His 
great  goodness,  blessed  me  with  in  this  late  day  of  my  life. 

But  now  to  business.  I  am  indeed  glad  to  hear  of  the 
advancement  of  Astoria,  my  old  and  first  home,  forty-two 
years  ago,  and  shall  look  forward  to  much  pleasure  in  meet- 
ing my  friends  there,  in  the  near  future,  especially  our  ladies 
of  the  union.  INIy  heart  is  in  the  work,  and  with  me  you 
know  what  that  means.  I  hope  I  shall  not  disappoint  you, 
and  your  friends,  when  I  do  come.  I  shall  hold  myself  in 
readiness  to  come  at  your  call.  I  can  come  on  the  2Gth  of 
April,  or  the  3d  of  May ;  or,  if  you  think  that  May  tenth 
would  suit  better,  I  may  make  some  change  here  in  my 
present  arrangements. 

As  to  taking  up  a  collection,  I  leave  that  with  you.  I 
charge  nothing  but  my  bare  expenses,  and,  in  this  case,  we 
have  been  expecting  for  some  time  to  visit  our  folks,  and 
so  can  combine  buisness  with  pleasure.  The  subject  of  my 
lecture  is : 

"The  necessity  of  educating  our  children,  through  our 
public  schools,  as  to  the  effects  of  alcohol  and  narcotics  on 
the  human  system." 

Please  let  m.e  know,  at  your  earliest  convenience,  as  to  the 
day  selected,  that  I  may  arrange  the  time  of  other  engage- 
ments so  as  not  to  conflict.  Sincerely  yours, 

B.  A.  Owens-Adair. 

Below  is  the  lecture  above  referred  to. 


SoiMi'.  (ii-  lli:i<  I. hi:  I'"xi'KKii:ncks.  4^1 

THE     NECESSIIN      ()!•     ICDUCA'II  XG    OUR     CHILDKEN     SCIENTIFI- 

CAFJA',    'JIIKonill    OUK    1'UI5L1C    SCHOOLS,    AS   TO   TJIE 

EKJ'l-.CrS  OF  ALCOJIOL  AND  NARCOTICS   UPON 

'l'I[l<:    HUMAN   SYSTEM. 

Wc  know  wc  art-  trcadiiiL;-  upon  comparatively  new 
g'ronnd,  and  snl)jcclint;-  ourselves  to  severe  criticism  when 
we  suii;i;est  that  our  public  schools  should  he  required  to 
assist  in  this  threat  cause  of  temperance. 

All,  1  think,  will  a,L;ree  w^ilh  me  thai  it  is  thn>u!^di  our  ])uh- 
lic  schools  that  we  can  most  effectually  reach  the  majority 
of  the  thinkin.q-  minds  of  our  country.  Our  ])uljlic  schools 
are  fast  wiping-  oul  su])erstition  and  ])reiudice,  and  train- 
ing our  lioys  and  girls  to  think,  to  choose,  and  to  act  for 
themselves.  This  can  but  tend  to  broaden  their  minds,  and 
deepen  their  intellectual  perceptions,  and  give  strength  and 
firmness  to  their  independence,  which  we  know  is,  in  our 
citizens,  the  very  foundation  of  our  republic. 

As  a  nation  we  are  looking  to  our  public  schools  as  the 
great  source  from  which  our  youth  are  to  receive  correct 
ideas  of  self-government. 

Our  temperance  movement  is  yet  young ;  but  we  have 
reason  to  hope  that  within  a  short  time  it  will  absorb  the 
whole  people ;  therefore,  we  would  begin  now  to  educate  our 
children  as  to  the  uses  and  abuses  of  alcohol.  By  instructing 
the  children  of  today,  we  are  educating  the  men  and  women 
of  the  near  future,  and  I  think  that  a  child  may  be  made  a 
Catholic,  a  Protestant,  or  a  "free-thinker"'  by  the  particular 
instruction  given  it  in  early  life. 

Let  us,  therefore,  be  very  careful  that  the  children  of  to- 
day shall  not  only  be  generally  well-informed  men  and  wom- 
en, but  that  they  shall  grow  up  with  intelligent  and  well- 
defined  ideas  as  to  the  widespread,  and  far-reaching  evil  re- 
sults attending  the  use  of  alcohol  in  any  form,  as  a  beverage. 

Having  suggested  some  of  the  many  reasons  for  teaching 
the  "evils  of  alcohol"  in  our  schools,  let  us  now  see  what 


423  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

objections  may  be  reasonably  raised  against  this  movement. 
Certainly  we  need  fear  none  in  the  name  of  religion,  for 
alcohol  is  no  respecter  of  persons  or  faith,  but  attacks  Pro- 
testant and  Catholic  with  equal  force,  and  brings  discord  and 
dishonor  upon  the  families  of  Christians,  as  well  as  "free- 
thinkers." 

Would  those  engaged  in  the  liquor  traffic  stand  alone  as 
objectors  ?  We  believe  they  would ;  and  further,  we  believe 
that  a  very  respectable  number  of  our  liquor  dealers  would 
prefer  that  their  children  should  begin  life  with  a  clear 
understanding  of  the  baneful  effects  of  this  most  insidious 
poison. 

Physiqians  know  that  malignant  diseases  require  radical 
treatment,  and  that  in  all  cases,  in  order  to  cure  disease,  the 
cause  must  be  removed. 

This  disease  of  intemperance,  or  alcoholism,  to  give  its 
scientific  name,  has  attacked  our  nation,  and  is  fastening  on, 
and  gnawing  at  its  very  vitals !  Its  poison  is  infused  through 
our  whole  system,  and  is  coursing  in  the  veins  of  all  classes 
of  our  people !  It  may  almost  be  called  a  contagious  dis- 
ease, and  when  once  contracted,  it  can  be  transmitted  from 
generation  to  generation,  appearing  in  a  thousand  types, 
and  forms. 

No  family  in  all  our  broad  land  is  free  from  its  baneful 
curse.  We  see  it  in  the  pinched  and  contracted  features  of  the 
innocent  babe.  We  hear  it  in  the  moans  and  cries  of  its  dis- 
turbed slumbers.  We  find  it  exhibited  in  the  ill-humors 
and  vicious  acts  of  the  young  and  old.  It  comes  to  us  in 
the  form  of  chorea  and  paralysis.  We  meet  it  daily  in  the 
various  forms  of  hysteria  and  other  nervous  diseases. 

Visit  our  insane  asylums,  and  trace  the  histories  of  those 
poor  unfortunates  therein,  and  you  will  find  that  at  least 
three-fourths  of  them  can  be  referred  directly  or  indirectly 
to  alcohol. 

Then  go  to  the  poor-houses  and  penitentiaries  and  you  will 


So.Mi':  or    lli-.K  I, III-:   ICximcuikncpis.  I'i.'? 

find  a  still  .greater  pcrccntaj^e  of  llioir  inmates  \vlif>  attribute 
their  downfall  to  the  same  cause.  And  I  ask:  "Is  there  any- 
thing strant^e  in  all  this,  when  we  know,  beyond  a  doubt, 
that  alcohol  has  a  special  affinity  for  brain  and  nerve  tissues? 
There  are  many  ])hysical  and  ])ractical  demonstrations  which 
plainly  prove  the  tnilli  of  this. 

We  know  that  the  brain  substance  of  heavy  drinkers  be- 
comes hardened  and  contracted ;  and  we  have  it  asserted,  on 
good  aulhorily,  that  the  brains  of  long-continued  drunkards 
who  have  died  from  the  effects  of  alcohol,  were  so  saturated 
with  the  spirits  that  it  ignited  when  touched  with  a  lighted 
match. 

A  very  beautiful  demonstration  of  the  effects  of  alcohol 
on  the  circulation  may  be  shown  by  placing  the  web  of  a 
frog's  leg  under  a  microscope ;  then  drop  one  drop  of  dilute 
alcohol  on  it,  and  you  will  see  the  blood-vessels  slowly  dilate, 
or  expand,  and  channels  heretofore  unseen  will  open  before 
3-our  eyes ;  and  you  will  see  the  blood-corpuscles  darting  on- 
ward, at  a  far  more  rapid  pace.  Now  touch  the  membrane 
with  a  drop  of  pure  spirits,  and  you  will  see  the  blood-ves- 
sels quick]}-  contract.  The  cells  will  slacken  their  speed,  and 
finally  cease  to  move.  The  flesh  shrivels  up.  and  dies  for 
want  of  nourishment ;  the  tissues  no  longer  receiving  their 
food-supply  from  the  blood. 

Alcohol  is  a  poison.  A  quart  drank  at  one  time  would  be 
death  to  any  person,  but  when  diluted,  as  in  wine,  whisky 
and  other  drinks,  it  is  a  powerful  stimulant.  The  expe- 
rienced physician  instantly  detects  the  peculiar  thrill  con- 
veyed to  the  pulse  by  the  heart  alcoholically  stimulated. 
Like  strychnia,  and  many  other  poisonous  narcotics,  alco- 
hol (when  in  the  hands  of  a  skillful  physician)  is  a  safe, 
valuable,  and  harmless  remedy.  As  a  stimulant  when  delay 
means  death,  nothing  has  been  found  to  excel  it;  and  from 
age  to  age,  it  has  proved  itself  one  of  the  physician's  strong- 
est aids ;  but,  like  opium,  only  by  the  physician  should  it  be 
prescribed,  or  used. 


424  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

Careful  experiments  show  that  two  ounces  of  alcohol  (an 
amount  contained  in  the  potations  of  a  very  moderate 
drinker)    increase  the  heart-beats   (lOdO   in   24  hours. 

It  is  hard  work  to  fight  alcohol ;  harder  than  rowing, 
walking,  wrestling,  coal-heaving,  or  the  tread-mill  itself. 

All  this  is  only  the  first  eft'ect  of  alcohol  on  the  heart.  Its 
long-continued  use  will  cause  degeneration  of  its  muscular 
fiber,  so  that  the  heart  loses  its  power  to  drive  the  blood,,  and 
in  time,  it  will  fail  to  respond  to  even  the  spur  of  the  stim- 
ulant that  has  driven  it  to  destruction.  When  alcohol  is 
taken  into  the  stomach,  it  passes  directly  into  the  circulation, 
and  in  a  few  minutes,  sweeps  through  the  entire  system.  If 
taken  in  considerable  quantities,  its  great  affinity  for  water 
will  induce  it  to  absorb  water  from  the  red  corpuscles,  caus- 
ing them  to  shrink,  and  change  their  form,  thereby  render- 
ing them  unfit  to  carry  oxygen.  They  may  adhere  together 
in  masses,  which  prevents  their  passage  through  the  small 
capillaries,  thus  obstructing  the  flow  of  the  vital  current 
through  the  heart,  lungs,  liver,  and  other  organs,  and  so 
laying  the  foundations  of  disease. 

Should  such  obstructions  occur  in  the  brain,  paralysis,  or 
apoplexy  may  follow.  Persons  have  died  on  the  spot,  from 
drinking  large  quantities  of  liquor,  on  a  wager,  and,  upon 
examination,  it  has  been  found  that  the  whole  of  the  blood 
in  the  heart  had  formed  into  a  clot,  thus  causing  instant 
death. 

The  red  corpuscles  are  the  air-cells  of  the  blood,  and 
carry  oxygen,  which  they  receive  from  the  lungs,  to  every 
part  of  the  body,  and  give  it  up  to  the  hungry  tissues,  after 
which  they  return  to  the  lungs,  upon  their  faithful  and 
double  mission,  laden  with  carbonic  acid  gas,  known  as  the 
debris  of  the  tissues,  which  must  be  burned  up  in  order  to 
preserve  health  and  life. 

Xow  we  have  seen  that  from  the  efifects  of  alcohol  these 
little  life-preser\Aers  are  rendered  unfit  to  perform  their  nor- 


SoMic  oi'    lli;i<   I, III-.   I'!xi'i';kii-;.\c:i-:s.  425 

ni.'il  fuiuiion  of  t\'c(lin,L;  and  rclirvinL;-  tlic  tissues,  aiirl  lur- 
tluT,  fi-(»iti  llii'ir  ahiKirnial  cMiKlitiMii  ihcv  have  become  ele- 
ments of  constant  (ianj^vr.  W'c  kncnv  that  alcohol  alters, 
and  impairs  tissue,  rcndcrinj^-  it  liable  to  disease;  especially 
is  Ihis  fad  noticed  in  surs^ery.  The  blood  being  thinned, 
and  depreciated,  severe  hemorrhage  is  always  expected,  and 
much  dreaded;  and  the  most  skillful  surgeon  oft-times,  in 
such  cases,  finds  himself  ap])alle(l,  and  powerless  to  check 
the  How  of  blood. 

A  Mr.  Huber,  who  saw  'JKiO  persons  perish  with  cholera 
in  twenty  days  in  a  Russian  town,  says: 

"It  is  a  most  remarkable  circumstance  that  persons  given 
to  drink  have  been  swept  away  like  flies.  In  Tiflis,  with 
twenty  thousand  people,  every  drunkard  has  fallen.  Not 
one  remains!" 

Alcohol  is  not  a  food,  as  many  suppose ;  but,  in  case  of 
weakly  persons  with  poor  digestive  organs,  its  judicious  use 
viay  prove  beneficial,  by  stimulating  the  glands  which  sup- 
ply the  digestive  fluids,  thereby  aiding  digestion. 

If  you  take  bread  or  meat  into  the  stomach,  nature  wel- 
comes it,  and  the  juices  of  the  system  at  once  take  hold  of, 
and  prepare  it  for  the  nourishment  of  the  body.  A  million 
tiny  fingers,  known  as  lacteals,  reach  out  and  grasp  it.  They 
pour  upon  it  their  digestive  fluids,  dissolving  and  working 
it  over,  and  over  again,  thus  preparing  it  for  the  circulation, 
which  takes  hold,  and  carries  it  onward  to  wherever  it  is 
needed  to  mend,  build,  or  re-build  "this  house  we  live  in." 
It  is  now  no  longer  bread  and  meat,  but  has  become  a  part 
of  yourself.  It  is  your  flesh  and  blood.  Its  chemical  energy 
has  been  imparted  to  you  as  strength. 

But  if  you  take  alcohol  into  your  stomach,  nature  does  not 
receive  it  so  kindly,  but  treats  it  as  a  poison,  and  seeks  to 
rid  herself  of  its  presence  as  soon  as  possible.  The  glands 
join  in  giving  up  their  protective  juices,  and  try,  through 
dilution,  to  weaken  its  power,  and  satisfy  its  greed  for  water. 


420  Dr.  Owexs  -  Adair. 

thereby  preventing  its  shriveling-  up  the  dehcate  membranes, 
with  which  it  must  come  in  contact. 

The  veins  take  it  up,  and  carry  it  throughout  the  body ; 
all  the  organs  of  alimentation  (scavengers  of  the  body)  are 
vigoroush-  at  work  in  the  effort  to  rid  the  system  of  this 
foe.  Thus  it  rushes  through  the  system,  and  passes  off'  un- 
changed, as  alcohol,  nature  seeming  to  make  no  effort  to 
appropriate  it  to  her  use. 

Dr.  A.  B.  Hall,  of  Boston,  states  that  he  once  bled  a  man 
who  was  dead  drunk,  catching  the  blood  in  a  bowl,  and  upon 
touching  a  match  to  it,  the  liquor  blazed  up  at  once,  proving 
that  alcohol  was  there  in  an  unchanged  state. 

Liquor  (though  many  believe  it)  is  not  a  protection 
against  cold.     Dr.  Hayes,  the  Arctic  explorer,  says : 

"\Miile  fat  is  absolutely  essential  to  the  inhabitants  and 
travelers  in  Arctic  countries,  alcohol  is  not  only  completely 
useless,  but  positively  injurious.  I  have  known  able-bodied 
men  become  utterly  incapable  of  resisting  the  cold,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  long-continued  use  of  alcoholic  drinks." 

And  it  is  also  true  in  all  cases  where  strength  and  endur- 
ance are  required.  Prize-fighters,  racers,  and  the  like,  have 
given  testimony  to  the  truth  of  this  assertion.  The  trainers 
of  such  persons  absolutely  refuse  to  allow  alcoholic  stim- 
ulants to  be  taken  in  any  form,  during  the  training  process, 
so  well  do  they  know  its  deleterious  effect  upon  the  physical 
powers. 

But,  after  all,  the  worst  evil  which  alcohol  brings  upon 
humanity  is  the  curse  which  the  inebriate  parent  entails 
upon  his  innocent  offspring.  This  law  of  heredity  demands 
our  most  earnest  consideration.  The  world  is  beginning  to 
perceive  that  the  life  of  each  individual  is,  in  some  real  sense, 
a  continuation  of  the  lives  of  his  ancestors.  "Each  one  of 
us  is  the  footing  up  of  a  double  column  of  figures  that  goes 
back  to  the  first  pair."     As  Emerson  profoundly  says : 

"A  man  is  the  whole  encyclopedia  of  facts.     The  creation 


SoMi'-.  oi-   IIi;r  ].\hi:  TCximckiknces.  437 

of  .'L  llions.'iml  forests  is  in  one  ;iconi  :  aiul  I'.j^ypt,  fjrcccc, 
Rome,  (ianl,  llritain  .'ind  yVmcrica,  lie  folded  already  in  the 
first  man." 

"We  arc  omnibuses,"  rt'markcd  I  lolmes,  "in  which  all  our 
ancestors  ride." 

We  inherit  from  our  parents  om-  featiu"es,  our  ])hysical 
and  menial  vi,L;-or,  and  even  nuich  of  our  luoral  character, 
and  often  when  one  generation  is  skipped,  these  qualities 
will  re-api)ear  in  the  one  followinj^,  or  even  later. 

The  vices  of  our  forefathers,  as  well  as  their  virtues,  have 
subtracted  from,  or  added  to  the  strength  of  our  brain  and 
muscle.  The  evil  tendencies  of  our  nature  constitute  a  part 
of  our  heirlooms  from  the  past. 

Our  descendeuts,  in  turn,  will  have  reason  to  bless  us, 
only  in  the  degree  that  we  hand  down  to  them  a  pure, 
healthy  physical,  mental  and  moral  being. 

There  is  a  marked  tendency  in  nature  to  transmit  all  dis- 
eased conditions, — the  actual  disease  not  always  being  trans- 
mitted, but  a  pre-disposition,  or  tendency  toward  the  actual 
disease.  Alcohol  is  the  most  potent  of  all  agents  in  estab- 
lishing hereditary  traits  which  prove  destructive  to  both 
mind  and  bod}'. 

The  keen,  morbid  desire  for  Hquor  which  demands  grati- 
fication at  any  cost,  is  known  as  "alcoholism,"  and  is  trans- 
mitted from  the  parent  to  the  child,  and  thus  thousands  of 
persons  are  cursed  with  the  drink  craze,  and  such  of  these 
as  do  not  fall  by  the  wayside,  are  compelled  to  make  it  the 
great  struggle  of  their  lives  to  resist  the  cravings  of  this 
unappeasable  monster. 

There  are  at  least  five  distinct  varieties  of  mental  derange- 
ment \Ahich  own  alcohol  as  their  direct  cause. 

Could  men,  with  one  accord,  consent  to  give  up  all  ex- 
cesses, and  live  temperately, — which  means  a  life  of  health- 
fulness  and  holiness, — wliat  a  glorious  change  would  be 
wrought,      ^^■hat   a   diminution   of   disease,   crime,   and   in- 


428  Dr.  Owkxs  -  Adair. 

sanity.  Though  the  reduction  of  miser}-  and  evil  in  this 
generation  would  be  so  great,  that  of  the  next  would  be 
vastly  more. 

But,  unfortunately,  we  know  too  well  that  men  will  not 
abandon  their  excesses ;  indeed,  the  experience  of  ages  has 
taught  us  the  futility  of  wasting  much  time  and  energy  in 
the  effort  to  change  the  fixed  views  and  habits  of  adults,  and 
the  wisdom  and  necessity  of  concentrating  our  educatory 
force  upon  the  children,  while  their  young,  plastic  minds 
are  ready  to  receive  indelible  impressions,  so  as  to  forestall 
the  baleful  influences  of  evil,  and  implant  the  good  in  its 
stead. 

FROM  THE  ASTORIAN  OF   MAY   12,   1S85. 

"The  exercises  at  the  Congregational  Church  last  Sunday 
evening  were  well  deserving  the  large  audience  they  at- 
tracted. Mrs.  J.  B.  Wyatt,  Mrs.  C.  H.  Page,  Mrs.  f.  W. 
Eaton,  and  Mrs.  C.  W.  Fulton,  together  wdth  Mr.  D.  A. 
^Mcintosh,  ^Ir.  H.  G.  Smith,  and  the  church  choir,  gave 
some  splendid  vocal  selections,  after  which  a  thoughtful  and 
instructive  address  was  delivered  by  Mrs.  Dr.  Owens-Adair, 
the  lecture  being  a  subject  of  warm  eulogy  on  the  part  of 
all  who  heard  it." 

PROHIBITION    MEETING   AT   LIBERTY    HALL,    ASTORIA. 

Dr.  A.  C.  Kinney  introduced  the  speaker  of  the  evening, 
^Irs.  Dr.  Owens-Adair,  at  the  meeting  last  evening,  who  im- 
mediately began  a  thoughtful  and  instructive  address,  pre- 
faced by  a  brief  statement  regarding  the  intents  and  purposes 
of  the  Prohibition  party,  and  the  work  recjuisite  for  the 
Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union  to  do.  She  stated 
the  subject  of  her  discourse  to  be,  "Habit  in  Forming  Char- 
acter." Habit  is  a  prime  factor  in  temperance  reform.  It 
may  be  defined  in  general  as  an  internal  principle  that  leads 
us  to  do  anything  naturally  and  without  conscious  volition. 
It  may  be  inherited,  or  acquired.    Rightly  directed,  it  should 


SoiMi',  ()i-  IIi;k  J.ii"k  ICxperiences.  439 

begin  vvilli  the  prc-n.-ilal  life  of  llic  cliilil,  .'hhI  sliould  be 
carefully  nurtured  in  early  years.  We  cannot  stand  still; 
we  must  i^o  up  or  down.  Motion  is  tbe  universal  law  of 
nature,  aud  uiis-dirccted  energy  will  lead  to  bad,  as  proper 
efforts  will  lead  to  good  results,  and  good  habits.  The  com- 
mon remark,  "We  arc  a  bundle  of  habits,"  is  a  correct  one, 
and  one  worthy  of  consideration  by  all  who  have  their  own 
welfare,  and  the  good  of  their  fellow-beings  at  heart. 

The  speaker  then  entered  upon  what  may  be  styled  prac- 
tical physiology,  and  in  well-chosen  language,  gave  some 
excellent  suggestions  regarding  the  functions  of  different 
organs  of  the  body ;  their  normal  and  abnormal  conditions, 
the  important  influence  of  our  immediate  surroundings;  the 
mutual  relations  of  mind  and  body ;  the  laws  of  heredity, 
and  the  evils  of  opium,  tobacco,  and  alcohol,  which,  though 
useful  in  medicine,  are,  if  used  habitually,  destructive  to  life 
and  usefulness. 

The  speaker  was  both  pleasing  and  instructive.  Her 
theme  was  well  handled,  her  voice  perfectly  audible  in  all 
parts  of  the  hall,  her  enunciation  clear  and  distinct  and  im- 
pressive, and  her  logic  and  arguments  convincing.  Not  the 
least  part  of  her  discourse  was  that  relating  rather  more  to 
the  psychological  than  the  physiological  nature  of  man,  and 
on  points  such  as  the  discussion  of  our  instincts,  which  were 
defined  as  but  the  transmitted  habits  of  our  ancestors. 

The  speaker  shed  new  light  on  what  has,  at  all  times, 
been  a  favorite  study  of  biologists. 

She  concluded  with  a  fitting  allusion  to  the  priceless  value 
of  good  habits,  and  gracefully  illustrated  the  beauty  of  her 
text  by  quoting  Longfellow's  Psalm  of  Life,"  where  our 
representative  American  poet  says : 

''Lives  of  great  men  all  remind  us 

We  can  make  our  hves  sublime ; 
And,  departing,  leave  behind  us 

Footprints  on  the  sands  of  Time. 


430  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

Let  us,  then,  be  up  and  doing; 

\\'ith  a  heart  for  any  fate. 
Still  achieving',  still  pursuing, 
Learn  to  labor,  and  to  wait." 


WOMEN  TO  THE  FRONT. 

L'nder  this  inviting  salutation,  the  Sail  Francisco  Chron- 
icle of  a  recent  date  speaks  very  highly,  and  deservedly,  too, 
of  Mrs.  L.  M.  F.  Wauzer,  a  female  student,  who  has  been 
matriculated  in  the  Medical  Department  of  California,  and 
who  "will  soon  be  sitting  on  the  front  seat  of  the  lecture 
ampitheater,  and  cutting  poor  humanity  to  pieces  in  the  dis- 
secting room,"  and  adds : 

"She  is  the  first  woman  on  this  coast  who  has  ever  been 
admitted  to  similar  honor  and  companionship." 

Here  we  take  issue  with  the  Chronicle.  If  our  California 
editors  would  but  see  that  Oregon  is  on  this  coast,  with  all 
her  glorious  history,  they  would  find  examples  and  prec- 
edents here  for  those  important  matters  and  things  which 
are  sure  to  follow  in  their  own  state,  and  of  which,  on  the 
first  occasion  of  notice  of  them,  they  boast  so  much. 

Oregon  has  a  daughter  who  has  already  received  the  high- 
est honors  in  the  medical  profession,  and  is  now  reaping  the 
fruits  of  a  lucrative  practice  in  this  state.  We  allude  to  Mrs. 
B.  A.  Owens,  M.  D.,  of  Portland.  Mrs.  Owens  came  to  Or- 
egon with  her  parents  in  1843,  being  then  a  mere  child.  She 
early  evinced  a  strong  desire  to  learn ;  to  acquire  a  scientific 
education.  Having  no  means  to  enable  her  to  pursue  her 
studies,  except  what  pioneers  shared  in  common — just  what 
their  hands  could  procure — she  struggled  on,  through  great 
privation,  in  this  new  country,  until  she  became,  though 
young,  the  accomplished  mistress  of  her  own  personal  for- 
tune. At  that  early  day,  and  for  years  thereafter,  the  op- 
portunities for  learning  were  very  few  and  far  between. 
With  the  subject  of  this  sketch  it  was  an  individual  work. 


SoMK  o('  IIkk  LiFii  Experiences,  431 

Slu-  First  prepared  herself  for  a  teacher,  and  followed  the  oc- 
cupation until  she  removed  to  a  more  thickly  settled  portion 
of  the  state,  among  relatives  and  friends,  and  engaged  in  a 
more  lucrative  business,  pursuing  her  medical  studies  at  the 
same  time.  After  a  few  yekrs,  being  fully  prepared,  and 
having,  by  her  industry,  secured  a  competency,  she  entered 
the  Medical  University  of  Pennsylvania,  at  Philadelphia, 
where,  in  due  time,  she  graduated  with  the  honors  of  her 
class. 

Mrs.  Owens,  therefore,  is  not  only  .the  first  woman  on 
this  coast  who  has  ever  been  admitted  to  such  honor,  but  she 
is  the  first  woman  of  the  Pacific  states  who  had  the  moral 
courage  to  enter  a  class  of  students  in  a  medical  college 
where  men  and  women  studied  and  practiced  medicine  to- 
gether. 

MRS.  B.  A.  OWENS. 

"This  lady  arrived  on  the  last  steamer  from  Europe,  the 
Portland  papers  inform  us.  Mrs.  Owens  formerly  prac- 
ticed in  Portland,  where  she  had  a  large  business  in  her  pro- 
fession. Three  years  since,  she  went  east,  and  reviewed  her 
studies  in  one  of  the  first  medical  colleges  in  the  United 
States.  In  this  institution  she  graduated,  receiving  the  high- 
est degree  in  surgery,  materia  medica,  and  all  the  accom- 
plishments of  the  profession  of  her  choice.  There  is  no  lady, 
we  venture  to  say,  practicing  medicine  who  has  had  the 
benefit  of  such  thorough  teaching  as  Mrs.  Owens,  and  who 
comes  to  the  practice  with  greater  skill  and  ability.  In  her 
collegiate  course  she  received  the  highest  honors  that  could 
be  bestowed  upon  one  of  the  profession.  For  several  months 
she  has  been  visiting  Europe,  from  which  she  returns  to  en- 
gage in  her  calling  at  Portland.  A  lucrative  practice  awaits 
her.'— (July,  1881.) 


432  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

rROIIIBITION. 

Editor  Gazette : 

During  our  last  State  Woman's  Christian  Temperance 
Union  convention,  our  state  superintendent  of  state  work 
asked  me  to  reply  to  "Ekoms,"  in  the  Gold  Beach  Ga.-:ette  of 
]\Iay  30th,  which  I  had  not,  at  that  time,  seen. 

\\'hom  this  learned  opponent  is,  I  know  not ;  but  from  the 
tone  of  his  article,  I  should  judge  that  his  occupation  is  that 
of  dispensing  alcoholic  drinks  across  a  bar,  to  that  very  class 
of  men  whose  rights  and  liberties  he  seems  so  anxious  to 
champion.  It  is  my  belief  that  with  even  the  average  thinker, 
and  reader,  just  such  effusions  as  this  from  the  pen  of 
Ekoms  must  do  our  cause  much  good.  The  flimsy  argu- 
ments which  he  sets  forth,  and  seems  to  think  conclusive, 
are  old,  and  threadbare.  They  consist  principally  in  asser- 
tions, sarcasms,  ridicule,  and  slangy  expressions.  He  says : 
"Physiology  is  a  good  thing  to  study,  and  so  is  hygiene,  if 
we  can  get  a  proper  conception  of  what  it  means."  Also, 
that  children  in  district  schools  will  not  reach  these  studies 
unless  they  skip  geography,  grammar,  and  arithmetic. 

This  shows  that  he  has  not  a  right  conception  of  these 
subjects. 

If  he  will  but  consult  Dunglicon's  Medical  Dictionary,  he 
will,  I  think,  be  able  to  learn  that  children  not  only  six,  but 
even  three  years  of  age,  may  begin  the  study  of  hygiene  by 
learning  what  to  eat,  drink,  and  wear ;  and  what  not  to  eat, 
drink,  and  wear,  that  they  ma}^  keep  well  and  not  get  sick. 
They  can  also,  even  at  this  tender  age,  be  taught  the  differ- 
ence between  the  state  of  being  sick  or  well,  and  how  to  avoid 
the  one,  and  retain  the  other.  All  of  which  is  the  study  of 


SoMi-:  ()i-   WiM   Liip:   Iv\ri';i<ii-:.\rris.  ^''>''> 

liy.^ieiu',  pliysioloj^y,  .-ind  palliolo^y,  three  hi^  words,  I  ad- 
mit; ImiI,  like  .-ill  oilier  L;reat  ])r()l)leiii^,  hecoinc  comprclicn- 
sivc  vvdieii  sim]>lilied  l)y  kn't\vledi;c,  and  el'itliefl  in  simple 
words. 

He  also  says:  "And  yil  we  timl  perfect  health  i^revailinp^ 
on  an  lndi;in  ranch  so  lilthy  thai  the  stench  of  it  would  turn 
your  sloniael)  wronp^  side  ont  a  mile  anil  a  half  against  the 
wind."  (  I  presmne  lie  has  reference  to  the  distance  from 
the  ranch,  and  not  the  length  of  your  stomach.)  ".A^nd  a 
nice,  Christian  family,  temperate  and  refined,  prostrate  with 
sickness,  in  the  same  climate,  and  atmosphere."  Here  I 
would  gently  remind  our  worthy  opponent  that  we  are  not 
Indians ;  neither  are  we  Chinamen.  That  which  is  life  and 
health  for  one  animal,  is  destruction  and  death  to  another. 
Who  would  think  of  placing  a  horse  and  a  hog  in  the  same 
pen,  and  expecting  them  to  thrive  on  the  same  diet  and  ex- 
ercise ? 

Just  what  Ekoms  means  hy  "a  good,  old-fashioned  edu- 
cation," I  clo  not  understand.  Neither  do  I  believe  that  old- 
fashioned  educations,  or  by-gone  modes  of  instruction  can 
equal  those  of  today.  I  am  only  surprised  that  any  person, 
at  this  age  of  science,  who  presumes  to  write  for  news- 
papers, could  make  the  assertion  that  the  efifects  of  alcohol 
on  the  human  system  are  not  known.  The  effects  of  this 
drug  (for  it  should  only  be  known  as  such)  have  been  for 
more  than  twenty  years  studied  experimentally  by  many  of 
the  greatest  scientists  of  the  age.  And  today  we  know  its 
effects  upon  every  tissue  of  the  body.  We  know,  too,  that 
only  as  a  medicine  has  it  ever  benefited  a  human  being :  for 
it  must,  of  necessity,  encroach  upon  that  law  that  holds  good 
throughout  the  universe :  "Over-stimulation  brings  about 
a  corresponding  sedation." 

It  has  been  determined  that  two  ounces  of  alcohol,  taken 
as  wines  or  liquors,  will  increase  the  heart-beats  (lOOO  in  2-4 
hours,   which   is   equivalent   to   lifting   seven   tons   one   foot 


434  Dr.  Owexs  -  Adair. 

high.  Or,  reduced  still  further,  corresponds  to  work  done 
equal  to  Hfting  seven  ounces  1493  times  each  hour.  If  we 
had  no  other  proof  than  this  one  of  its  deleterious  effects,  this 
alone  would  be  amply  sufficient  to  prove  to  all  reasonable 
thinking-  minds  that  alcohol  does  "shorten  life,"  does  "pro- 
duce insanity  and  ill-health." 

But,  fortunately,  we  have  thousands  of  proofs.  If  space 
permitted,  I  could  fill  pages  with  statistics,  and  opinions  of 
scientific  men  and  women  to  verify  these  assertions.  If  this 
is  not  so,  why  do  insurance  companies  refuse  to  insure  the 
lives  of  di-unkards?  Why  is  the  question  always  asked  by 
them  :  "Do  you  use  alcoholic  liquors  ?  If  so,  to  what  ex- 
tent?" Ignorance  as  to  the  effect  of  alcohol  on  the  human 
system  is,  we  consider,  the  cause  of  much  drunkenness. 
Few  persons  understand  or  realize  that  they  are  being  in- 
jured by  this  most  insidious  poison  until  the  habit  is  formed. 
That  habit  now  becomes  the  controlling  and  consuming  ele- 
ment of  their  lives,  which  few  persons  have  the  moral  or 
physical  power  to  overcome.  "We  are  a  bundle  of  habits." 
We  begin  forming  these  habits  even  in  the  cradle,  many  of 
wdiich  go  with  us  to  the  grave.  Should  not  our  little  ones 
be  taught  by  their  foster-mother,  the  public  school,  how  to 
avoid  the  evil,  and  select  the  good?  What  is  the  worth  of 
education  without  morality  ?  Give  us  this,  and  if  needs  be, 
less  science.  We  deny  that  "nineteen  out  of  twenty"  want 
or  need  alcohol,  in  any  form.  And  we  contend  that  this 
nation  has  as  much  right  to  legislate  and  regulate  the  manu- 
facture and  sale  of  this  poison,  as  it  has  that  of  opium,  or 
any  other  deadly  drug.  Opium  has  never  cost  the  nation 
one-thousandth  part,  either  in  wealth,  disgrace,  wretched- 
ness, insanity  or  disease,  as  has  alcohol.  To  say  that  men 
have  the  right,  or  should  be  allowed  it,  to  use  that  which 
will  not  only  ruin  and  bring  disgrace  upon  themselves,  but 
upon  their  families,  as  well,  is,  to  my  mind,  equivalent  to 
saying  that  a  man  has  a  right  to  take  his  own  life,  and  that 


Some  ok  FTi^r  I.ikk  Eni-kkiencks.  410) 

of  bis  family.  Were  llic  dninkards  the  only  sufferers 
liirouj^li  this  iiKhil^ciuH!,  cvc;n  then  humane  temperance 
people  would  he  juslified  in  interfering,  and  demanding  thai 
the  strong  arm  of  the  law  shall  protect  and  shield  those  that 
cannot  protect  themselves.  That  this  class  should  be  per- 
mitted to  not  only  disgrace  our  nation,  and  their  own  fam- 
ilies, but  that  they  should  be  allowed  to  poison  the  blood  of 
their  innocent  offspring,  and  bring  into  our  midst  poverty, 
disease,  idiocy,  and  insanity,  is  more  than  we  are  willing  to 
allow.  We  deny  that  prohibition  is  a  failure,  and  with  pride 
we  point  to  Iowa  and  Maine  for  ample  proof.  This  tem- 
perance party  has  grown  into  a  power  that  is  felt  through- 
out the  land.  For  information,  read  "Prohibition  in  Port- 
land, Maine,"  on  the  fifth  page  of  the  Union  Signal,  of  July 
second.  'Tn  April,  1884,  there  were  115  arrests  for  drunk- 
enness alone.  In  April,  1855,  onl}-  51  arrests.  At  the  time 
of  this  writing,  there  has  been  no  police  court  held  for  three 
mornings,  there  having  been  no  arrests." 

Ekoms,  like  many  other  such  writers,  closes  his  argument 
by  placing  this  burden  of  purification  on  the  shoulders  of 
mothers.  But  he  has  taken  the  great  precaution  to  instruct 
them  in  how^  they  must  work.  Thanks,  friend  Ekoms.  for 
your  gratuitous  advice.  But  the  last  ten  years  have  taught 
the  W.  C.  T.  U.  that  for  their  work,  it  is  best  to  use  their 
own  brains.  No,  no,  friend  Ekoms,  this  laying  on  of  your 
profane  hand  has  not  caused  our  holy  sanctuary  to  "crumble 
and  disappear,  like  frost  in  the  morning  sun."  It  is  still 
secure,  and  we  fear  not  the  winds  and  storms  of  profanity; 
for  our  sanctuary  is  not  built  upon  the  sand.  Yes,  you  are 
right,  we  are,  indeed,  "intrenched  behind  a  breastwork"  ;  a 
breastwork  in  which  Ave  have  faith,  for  it  is  "For  God,  and 
Home,  and  Native  Land." 


436  Dk.  0\\exs  -  Adair. 

prohibition. 

November  l-i,   1885. 
Friend  Ekoms : 

It  is  with  renewed  interest,  not  to  say  pleasure,  that  I 
come  forward  to  reply  to  your  second  article ;  especially  now 
that  I  know  you  to  be  a  friend,  and  more  than  suspect  your 
identity.  I  shall  strive  not  to  "misunderstand"  you  in  the 
future,  and  shall,  therefore,  have  hopes  of  your  ultimate 
conversion. 

I  should  be  glad  to  attempt  the  answering  of  all  your 
questions,  but  to  do  so  would  require  more  space  than  any 
newspaper  would  allow  in  one  or  two  issues.  I  shall,  there- 
fore, have  to  confine  myself  to  reasonable  space. 

It  was  with  thankfulness  that  my  soul  breathed  a  prayer, 
"Thank  God,"  when  my  eyes  fell  on  the  sentence,  "At  pres- 
ent, I  neither  drink  nor  deal  in  liquor." 

You  "do  not  think  that  selling  liquor  has  tarnished  your 
honor,  or  that  drinking  it  has  impaired  your  intellectual  abil- 
ity." The  first  we  will  not  discuss.  But  tell  me,  my  friend, 
do  you  look  back  to  your  occupation  of  selling  liquor  with 
the  same  pride  that  you  do  to  the  time  when  your  occupa- 
tion was  that  of  editing  a  newspaper  in  the  interest  of  a 
young  and  growing  community?  The  correctness  of  your 
second  assertion  depends  much  upon  the  quantity  drank,  and 
the  conditions  under  which  it  was  taken.  If  you  drank 
liquor  for  years,  or  even  months,  as  a  beverage,  then  the 
weight  of  scientific  authority  is  against  you.  But  here  comes 
a  demand  for  statistics,  and  you  seem  to  ignore  statistics, 
especially  those  of  recent  date.  If  you  have  more  faith  in 
older  statistics  than  those  of  modern  times,  I  will  refer  you 
to  Dr.  Rush's  essay,  written  one  hundred  years  ago,  the  cen- 
tennial birthday  of  which  we  temperance  people  celebrated 
last  month  throughout  the  United  States. 

For  further  proof,  please  study  that  eminent  prize  essay, 
written  one  hundred  and  thirty-six  years  ago,  on  the  use 


SoAii',  oi'   ||i;u  IjI'I';  I'"x i-ioKik.nces.  4;r/ 

;m(l  ahusc  nf  alci iliolic  li(|u<its,  hy  \\'illi;nii  II.  Carpenter, 
Al.  J).,  I'".  I\.  S.,  examiner  in  pliysiohj;:,'-}-  in  the  University  of 
London,  pi-ofessor  of  medical  jin'isprnrlence  in  University 
C,'()lle,L;e,  and  aiUlmr  i<\   "Tlic   I'l-jneiples  of  Physiology,"  etc. 

You  say  }'ou  once  heard  me  ])lay  a  different  tune, — that 
of  woman  snfTras^e. 

I  lake  i)leasure  in  in  fi  irmin,L;'  ym  lliat  I  liavc  not  for- 
gotten that  tune,  neither  have  J.  ceased  to  ]jlay  and  sing  it. 
It  is  just  as  near  and  dear  to  my  heart  toda)'  as  it  was  15 
ye.ars  ago,  when  to  advocate  it  was  considered  hy  the  hct- 
ter  (?)  classes  a  disgrace,  causing  its  advocates  to  be  de- 
risivel}'  called  "blue-stockings."  But,  my  friend,  do  you  not 
know  that  away  back  in  those  days  of  my  earnest  enthusiasm 
I  was  as  loyal  a  supporter  of  prohibition  as  I  am  now?  In 
proof  of  this  allow  me  to  quote  from  my  address  printed  in 
the  Roscbiiri:;  Pautai:;raph,  in  ISTl.  It  was  delivered  before 
the  Roseburg  lodge  of  Good  Templars,  on  my  installation  as 
worthy  chief. 

"I  did  not  join  this  organization  for  honor  or  fame,  but 
to  labor  in  every  honorable  way  for  the  abolition  of  king 
alcohol.  This  evil  is  deeply  rooted  in  our  system  of  gov- 
ernment, and,  like  his  satanic  majesty,  has  set  himself  up  as 
chief  ruler  in  our  governmental  affairs." 

Again  I  quote  from  my  reply  to  Thomas  Smith,  of  North 
Umpqua,  whose  article  was  headed  "Anti-Prohibition." 

Near  the  close  of  my  reply,  I  find  this  paragraph : 

"Then  I  would  say,  let  us  work  as  one  great  family ;  let 
the  women  encourage  the  men  to  form  political  temperance 
organizations,  where  each  man  will  pledge  himself  to  throw 
party  principles  aside,  and  vote  for  the  men  who  will  pledge 
themselves  to  work  for  prohibition." 

Yes,  T  do  acknowledge  that  alcohol,  like  opium,  is  a  val- 
uable drug,  and  the  great  physician,  Boerhaave.  said : 
"Opium  is  the  finger  of  God,"  and  those  who.  under  its 
soothing  power,  have  felt  the  cessation  of  unendurable  pain, 
can  respond  to  his  sentiment. 


438  Dr.  Owiixs  -  Adair. 

When  rightly  used,  as  a  medicine,  alcohol  and  opium  are 
blessings.  \Mien  perverted  to  sensual  gratification,  they  inflict 
untold  misery,  and  enslave  their  victims  in  chains  that  can  be 
severed  only  by  death.  The  strongest  will  is  easily  and  insid- 
iously overcome  by  the  use  of  these  drugs,  and  their  vic- 
tim believes  that  he  is  dying,  will  die,  and  that  only  opium 
(or  alcohol,  as  the  case  may  be)'  can  save  him.  Under  such 
circumstances,  the  most  conscientious  will  deceive,  lie  and 
steal  to  obtain  the  drug. 

The  use  of  all  stimulants  and  narcotics,  when  taken  in 
health,  have  the  same  destructive  tendency,  but  the  great 
difference  in  effect  depends  upon  the  special  power  of  the 
drug  itself.  Opium  stands  at  the  head,  both  for  good  and 
evil.    An  eminent  physician  once  said : 

"If  all  drugs  but  one  should  be  banished  from  use,  may 
God  grant  that  one  to  be  opium." 

Alcohol  is  the  greatest  curse  to  our  nation,  because  it  is 
more  universally  used.  Tobacco  ranks  next  in  order,  and 
yet,  until  the  last  few  years,  it  was  only  objected  to  by 
"cranky"  women,  and  the  worst  that  was  thought  and  said 
about  it  was  that  it  was  "a  filthy  habit."  Today  its  dele- 
terious effects  upon  the  human  system  are  scientifically 
studied  and  demonstrated.  So  great  is  the  interest  taken  in 
this  subject,  not  only  for  the  present  generation,  but  for  the 
welfare  of  those  unborn,  that  the  law-makers  of  16  states 
have  passed  laws  requiring  that  the  effects  of  alcoholic  stim- 
ulants and  narcotics  on  the  human  system  shall  be  taught  to 
all  children  educated  by  the  public  money. 

Again  you  say  that  if  I  could  be  induced  to  study  both 
sides  of  the  question,  I  would  still  remain  an  honest  laborer 
in  the  cause  of  temperance.  I  think  few  persons  have  had  a 
better  opportunity  to  study  both  sides  of  the  question  than 
myself.  My  early  life  was  crushed  by  this  common  curse 
of  humanity,  alcohol.  It  robbed  my  home  and  childhood  of 
everv  vestis'e  of  beauty  and  sunshine.     It  permitted  me  to 


SoAii':  ()i-   IIi;k   Liii'-,  ]Cx]'i;kii-:n'ce.s.  4.'iy 

grow  lip  ill  i,L;n'ir;iiicc'  of  llic  (■(iiiiciils  of  even  the  primary 
school  hooks;  and  not  nnlil  I  had  reached  womanhood,  and 
had  earned  money  I)y  Uie  hardest  manual  lahor,  did  I  have 
the  opportunity  of  learning  to  read  and  write. 

For  the  last  twelve  years  my  profession  has  given  me 
every  opportunity  to  study  the  "other  side"— tlie  human  side, 
which  is,  after  all,  the  scientihc  side  of  this  all-important 
question.  God's  laws  do  not  excuse  violations.  No,  nor 
even  mistalces ;  and  we,  not  only  as  individuals,  hut  as  a 
nation,  should  and  must  learn  hy  our  own  and  our  neigh- 
bors' mistakes  and  failures. 

More  than  eighteen  hundred  years  ago  we  were  told  that 
"The  sins  of  the  fathers  are  visited  upon  the  children,  aye, 
even  to  the  third  and  fourth  generation." 

Had  we  but  heeded  that  warning,  and  studied  the  solution 
of  the  problem,  we  should  not  toda'y  require  the  use  of  jails, 
penitentiaries,  and  insane  asylums.  But  for  centuries,  this 
warning  has  been  allow^ed  to  go  unheeded,  and  men  and 
women  in  their  ignorance  and  willfulness  go  blindly  on, 
propagating  disease,  insanity  and  wretchedness  into  this 
world.  Today  we  have  thousands  of  scientific  men  and 
women  in  the  field  devoting  their  earnest  and  faithful  lives 
to  the  great  work  of  elevating  and  purifying  the  race. 

The  W.  C.  T.  U.  is  a  grand  educational  organization 
wdiich  now  numbers  over  200,000  strong.  For  more  than 
eleven  years  we  have  been  quietly  educating,  not  only  our 
women  and  children,  but  our  men  as  well. 

We  have  studied  these  questions  thoroughly,  and  under- 
stand the  elements  with  which  we  have  to  deal ;  and  having 
trained  and  proficient  workers  in  the  field,  we  now  feel  pre- 
pared for  the  great  conflict ;  read}'-  to  join  hands  with  all 
temperance  people ;  and  willing  to  work  for  any  measure  that 
looks  toward  the  restriction  or  abolition  of  alcohol,  and  all 
other  sources  of  crime.  And  looking  to  this  end,  we  shall 
stand  by  the  third  party. 


440  Dr.  Owens  -  Auaik. 

As  to  the  assertions  that  prohibition  is  an  enemy  to  tem- 
perance, and  that  it  can  never  succeed,  they  will  be  decided 
in  the  near  future.  The  gain  of  20,000  votes  in  one  year  in 
Ohio  is  not  very  discouraging  to  us. 

You  and  I  remember  well  when  it  was  said  that  slavery 
was  a  divine  institution  and  could  never  be  dethroned,  yet 
we  have  lived  to  see  that  accursed  institution  which  was  so 
intimately  interwoven  into  the  very  fiber  and  life  of  our  gov- 
ernment, literally  torn  up,  root  and  branch,  and  consumed 
by  public  opinion.  I  doubt  if  there  can  be  found  in  the 
south  today  a  man  who  does  not  rejoice  that  the  stain  of 
slavery  has  been  removed  from  the  honor  of  our  country. 

Twent}-seven  years  ago  the  great  Republican  party  that 
has  governed  our  nation  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century, 
was,  in  point  of  numbers  vastly  inferior  to  the  temperance 
party  of  today,  and  its  object  was  not  more  humane.  It  re- 
ceived its  life  from  various  sources,  which  were  of  slow 
growth.  Its  primary  germ  was  the  old  abolition  party, 
which  was  near  half  a  century  in  maturing,  and  proved  to 
be  its  strongest  root. 

We  temperance  people  have  been  working  under  various 
organizations,  i.  e..  Sons  of  Temperance,  Woman  Suffrage, 
State  Temperance  Alliance,  Young  Men's  Christian  Asso- 
ciation, National  League,  Woman's  Christian  Temperance 
Union,  etc. 

The  one  great  object  of  all  these  organizations  is  the  ad- 
vancement and  elevation  of  humanity,  and  as  alcohol  is  con- 
sidered tlic  curse  of  our  country,  it  is  the  common  enemy  of 
all  these  societies,  and,  at  no  distant  day,  it  will  prove  to  be 
the  issue  which  will  firmly  unite  them  all  into  one  grand 
organization,  in  name,  as  they  now  are  one  in  feeling.  We 
are  aware  that  this  cannot  be  done  without  dissension.  There 
are  some  men  and  women  in  our  ranks  opposing  prohibi- 
tion, because  they  have  more  interest  in  the  Republican  or 
the  Democratic  parties  than  in  the  principles  of  the  organi- 
zation to  which  thev  belong. 


SoMi':  <)|-   lli-.K   Lii'ic   1v\iM':kii;.n(I-:.s.  Ill 

I'or  years  vvc  have  asked,  i)ra}f(l,  and  Ix'.^'^ed  at  llu-  feel 
of  these  two  j^Teat  parlies,  only  to  be  re])iilsed,  or  put  ol'f 
with  falterinj;'  promises  never  meant  to  be  fulfilled,  until  we 
have  not  only  beeome  discoura.qed,  but  disj^usted.  And  now 
we  are  ])n'pari'(l  (o  niei'l  lliem  in  a  way  that  will  at  least 
demand  respeetful  eonsideration.  No  ]jarty  realizes  this 
more  thoroui^hly  than  do  the  whisky  leaders,  themselves, 

Thev  are  now  calling-  luslilv  for  "liijL;!:  license,"  while  they 
are  fii;htino-  prohibition,  and  woman  suffrage.  Only  a  few 
years  ago  they  demanded  ecpial  privileges,  recognition,  and 
protection  before  the  law.  Today  their  only  hope  for  jjro- 
tection  is  in  high  license.  The  time  has  also  passed  that 
they  can  smile  at  woman's  power.  They  now  consider  her 
of  sufft'cient  consccjuence  to  require  the  adoption  of  a  set  of 
special  resolutions,  declaring  that  they  will,  at  all  times  and 
places,  work  to  defeat  woman  suffrage,  for  well  they  know 
that  with  woman's  ballot,  comes  the  fall  of  the  liquor 
traffic. 

Verily,  verily  the  world  moves  forward. 

Mrs.  Owens- Adair,  ]\I.  D. 

women  workers. 

Portland,  Oregon,  April  27,  1886. 
Editor  Star : 

Yesterday  the  subject  of  the  advisability  of  women  work- 
ing at  the  polls  was  brought  up  at  a  regular  meeting  of  our 
Portland  W.  C.  T.  U. 

The  matter  was  deferred  for  one  week,  to  give  time  for 
thought,  consultation  and  plans.  It  was  decided  to  meet  at 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  this  10  a.  m.,  to  make  it  a 
special  subject  of  prayer,  and  consultation.  At  the  close  of 
this  meeting,  a  committee  of  six  ladies  was  appointed  to  call 
upon  the  Prohibition  Central  Committee,  and  ask  for  indiv- 
idual pledges  from  each  candidate. 

Today  our  beloved  State   President,   ]\Irs.   H.   K.  Hines, 


443  Dr.  OwExs  -  Adair. 

will  request  our  corresponding  secretary,  ]\Ir5.  Robb,  to  send 
a  special  letter  to  each  and  ever}^  state  officer  of  the  \\'.  C. 
T.  U.  of  Oregon,  asking  her  to  authorize  her  name  to  be 
placed  to  a  call  which  will  soon  be  issued,  if  the  consent  of  a* 
majority  of  all  the  state  officers  is  secured. 

This  call  will  ask  the  earnest  support  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U., 
and  all  other  women  who  favor  temperance,  and  the  con- 
stitutional amendment.  And  further,  it  will  invite  all  such 
to  come  and  work  at  the  polls  for  all  good  temperance  can- 
didates, irrespective  of  party,  who  will  pledge  themselves  to 
work  for  a  constitutional  amendment. 

We  believe  we  know  the  mettle  of  which  these  grand 
women  are  possessed,  who  have  charge  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  of 
Oregon,  and  we  expect  to  see  within  a  few  days,  every  name 
of  ever}-  state  officer  attached  to  this  important  call.  Our 
brave,  noble  women  of  the  east  have  set  us  this  good  ex- 
ample. They  have  repeatedly  worked  side  by  side  at  the 
polls  Avith  their  temperance  brothers  with  success. 

The  Atlantic  and  Pacific  must  join  hands  in  this  great 
work.  Oh,  my  sisters,  this  is  a  vital  question,  one  of  life 
and  death !  Do  not,  oh,  do  not  shrink  from  this  work.  Let 
us  think  of  our  homes  and  dear  ones  in  danger,  and  forget, 
as  it  were,  all  else  but  our  duty  to  God  and  them. 

Let  us  see  to  it  that  on  the  first  IMonday  in  next  Jmie  we 
"make  our  record  clean."  And  let  us  prove  to  the  country 
that  we  can  and  will  assist  in  protecting  and  defending  our 
homes  and  loved  ones. 

Mrs.   Owens-Adair,   M.  D. 

women  urged  to  attend  the  polls. 

Portland,  Ore.,  April  27. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  Oregonian : 

Allow  me  to  thank  Judge  Bronaugh  for  his  sensible  and 
practical  letter  in  this  morning's  Oregonian.  Especially 
am  I  pleased  with  that  portion  wherein  he  appeals  to  women 


SoAiK  oi'-  ITiiK  Tjir:  K.\ri:i<iKNCE.s.  443 

all  over  this  stale  (o  form  lliemselves  into  eoininittees,  and 
wait  upon  every  eandidalc  Uw  llie  legislature,  and  ask  him 
to  pledge  himself,  if  elected,  to  work  and  vote  for  the  pro- 
posed arnendmciil  lo  the  Keady  bill.  I  honor  and  thank 
Judge  Bronaugh  for  bis  brave  and  earnest  call  for  woman's 
aid  in  this  great  work.  And  let  me  say  that  I  believe  that 
his  timely  call  will  receive  a  hearty  response.  For  myself, 
I  not  only  endorse  all  Ibal  judge  Bronaugh  said,  in  his  let- 
ter, but  I  will  go  even  farther  than  he  has  gone.  I  will  advo- 
cate the  advisabilit}'  of  women  attacking  this  monster  evil 
in  its  stronghold,  the  ]iolls.  I  favor  woman  carrying  her 
purifying  influence  to  those  places  where  her  representatives 
are  elected,  and  there  laboring  earnestly  for  those  men  only 
who  will  ])ledge  their  support,  if  elected,  for  the  constitu- 
tional amendment.  This  will  be  no  new  departure  for 
women.  They  have  worked  at  the  polls  in  the  various  states 
and  territories  where  local  option  and  prohibition  now  exist. 
Coffee,  sandwiches,  lemonade  and  ice  water  have  been  sup- 
plied in  many  places.  In  some  localities,  the  children,  our 
"Bands  of  Hope"  were  regaled,  and  with  appropriate  ban- 
ners, and  mottoes,  were  marched  and  counter-marched 
around  and  about  the  polling  places. 

And  pure,  refined  women  were  there,  earnestly  laboring 
for  the  good  of  their  country.  Do  not  tell  me  that  this  is 
no  place  for  women  and  children,  and  that  this  cannot  have 
a  beneficial  influence.  Purity  and  goodness  are  recognized, 
yes.  and  appreciated  bv  the  lowest,  and  most  degraded. 
Nothing  so  easily  touches  and  softens  the  heart  of  the  hard- 
est criminal  as  to  look  upon  the  innocent  faces  of  childhood, 
and  the  thin,  gray  locks  of  motherhood.  For  a  time  he 
lives  over  again  his  own  innocent  childhood,  and  looks  into 
the  loving  face  of  his  long  forgotten  mother.  A  strange 
power  seems  to  take  possession  of  him,  and  he  again  re- 
solves to  atone  for  past  wrongs,  and'  to  be  an  honest  man. 
For  a  time  temptation  loses  its  hold  on  him,  and  many  men, 


444  Dr.  Owens  -  Ahair. 

Atnder  such  influences,  have  been  redeemed.  The  attempt, 
at  least,  should  be  made.  I  am  aware  that  many  of  our 
good  women  shrink  from  the  work.  And  yet  the  brave 
mothers  of  our  beloved  W.  C.  T.  U.  began  this  crusade, 
fourteen  years  ago,  in  the  low,  vile  saloons  of  our  land.  And 
I  am  sure  it  was  never  claimed,  even  by  the  worst  opponent, 
that  these  women  were  defiled  through  this  unpleasant  work, 
but  to  the  contrary.  The  ministers  all  over  our  land  held 
protracted  meetings  earnestly  praying  for  their  success, 
and  urging  out  new  recruits. 

Now  why  should  the  women  to-day  not  be  strengthened 
and  encouraged  in  performing  this  less  objectionable  work. 
One  of  our  state  officers,  who  is  noted  for  her  quiet  manners, 
and  good,  sound  judgment,  said  to  me  yesterday:  "T  not 
onlv  think  it  is  proper  for  a  woman  to  work  at  the  polls, 
but  I  look  upon  it  as  a  duty,  especially  now,  when  we  have 
an  opportunity  of  accomplishing  so  much."  Let  us  hear 
from  some  of  our  brothers  and  sisters  on  this  subject. 

Mrs.  Owens-Adair. 

a  plea  for  women  to  work  at  the  polls. 

By  Dr.  Adair. 

Portland,  Or.,  ^'lay  5,  188G. 
Ed.  Plaindealer : 

Will  you  allow  me  space  to  call  the  attention  of  the  ladies 
of  Douglas  and  surrounding  counties  to  the  fact  that  the 
ladies  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  of  IMultnomah  county  have  de- 
cided to  work  at  the  polls.  Now,  ladies,  one  and  all,  who 
are  in  favor  of  temperance,  and  the  protection  of  your 
homes  from  the  rum  traffic,  will  you  not  join  us,  and  lend 
your  aid  in  every  way  that  you  think  best,  to  further  this 
good  w-ork?  Let  it  be  said  that  this  election  was  presided 
over  bv  women.  Yes.  good,  pure  women,  in  whose  presence 
men  dare  not  sink  below  the  level  of  the  brute  creation. 

Rest  assured,  my  good  sisters,  that  wherever  good  women 


SoAir:  oi'   Mi:k   Liii':   l'",,\rh  kiicncks.  'M."* 

g'o,  there  jl^oixI  l)eli,'ivi(ir  will  he  fonnd,  aii'l  decency  will 
prevail.  'Lliis  is  im  mw  departure, — women  have  workcfl 
at  tlie  ])nlls  ill  all  llie  various  states  where  prohibition  or 
local  (>|)li(>ii  now  exists,  and  at  all  times  they  have  done  good. 
Man}-  of  oiir  niinislcrs  have  sanctioned  the  move.  Yesterday 
one  of  llie  oldest,  an<l  clearest-headed  ministers  of  Oregon 
not  only  sanctioned,  hut  encouraged  us  to  go  forward  with 
this  work. 

All  we  need  to  do,  m}'  sisters,  is  to  go  forward  and  stand 
firm,  and  we  will  soon  find  an  immense  army  of  the  moral 
clement  at  our  backs. 

I  hope,  within  a  few  da}s,  to  sec  an  official  state  call  to 
the  W.  C.  T.  U.  to  take  up  this  work'.  \h\t  we  want  the 
aid  of  all  good  women  outside  of  this  organization  to  assist 
us  in  this  work  for  "God,  and  home  and  native  land." 

NO    'J-RUE    woman's    duty. 

Ed.   Review  : 

In  last  week's  issue  of  the  Review  I  see  a  letter,  or  a  called 
plea,  from  Mrs.  Owens-Adair,  M.  D.,  of  Portland,  in  which 
she  cndedvors  to  induce  ladies  of  Douglas  and  neighboring 
counties  to  an  active  interest  in  temperance  and  local  option. 
Endeavors  to  persuade  them  to  go  boldly  forward  and  min- 
gle with  the  disreputable,  hardened,  careless  and  indififerent 
men,  of  which  there  are  so  many  to  be  found  at  all  voting 
places,  or,  in  other  words,  desires  that  ladies  "work  at  the 
polls"  in  the  coming  election. 

Advising  all  ladies  in  favor  of  temperance  and  the  pro- 
tection of  their  homes  to  take  part  in  this  work  with  might 
and  main  in  keeping  the  men  from  "falling  below  the  brute 
creation." 

This  is  all  humbug.  True,  our  ladies  are  all.  it  is  to  be 
hoped,  in  favor  of  temperance,  and  will  do  all  in  their 
power  to  aid  this  great,  grand,  and  good  work;  but,  ladies, 
is  this  vour  duty?  Is  this  the  power  of  true  ladies  to  do, 
as  advised  bv  Mrs.  Owens-Adair?     To  go  among  the  men 


44G  Dr.  Owexs  -  Adair.  • 

at  the  polls,  to  be  jeered,  insulted,  scorned,  and  scoffed  at, 
perhaps  cursed.  Is  this  your  duty  ?  No !  What  we  want 
is  to  get  the  liquor  out  of  the  country,  of  course,  but  we 
can  never  do  so  by  going  to  the  polls,  unless  we  can  place 
our  vote  there,  and  thus  eradicate  the  gloom  cast  over  our 
country  by  whisky. 

Ladies,  your  good,  kind  husbands  would  not  care  to  see 
you  at  the  polls,  amid  a  crowd  of  shouting,  noisy  men,  min- 
gling among  besotted  wretches,  drunkards  staggering, 
swxaring,  in  such  conditions  as  you  would  not  care  to  see. 
Your  daughter  would  not  desire  to  see  her  mother  do  thus, 
but  would  endeavor,  to  the  best  of  her  ability,  to  prevent 
any  such   contact  on  your  part. 

Your  son  would  not  have  you  see  the  wretched  sights 
so  common  in  such  places,  and  horrifying  to  ladies.  Oh, 
no,  he  would  prefer  to  see  his  mother  at  home  among  her 
circle  of  friends,  awy  from  the  vile,  poisonous  atmosphere 
of  such  places.  With  that  sweet  smile,  that  beaming  coun- 
tenance, those  tender,  kind,  loving  words  that  make  home 
what  it  is.  He  would  wish  to  protect  you  from  such  things, 
as  a  dutiful  son  should  do.  In  God's  name,  ladies,  I  entreat 
you  do  not  this ;  do  what  you  can  in  other  ways ;  exert  your 
influence  on  those  round  about  you.  If  you  must  work  for 
the  annihilation  of  the  liquor  trafBc  there  are  plenty  of  op- 
portunities and  methods  offered  to  you  which  is  much  more 
ladylike,  and  will  tend  to  greater  good  than  that  of  the 
"worker  at  the  polls." 

I  sincerely  hope  that  these  words  will  find  their  way  to 
the  minds  of  any  lady  readers,  and  after  due  consideration 
I  am  positive  you  will  agree  with  me.  Some  time,  perhaps, 
the  victory  will  be  ours,  if  we  but  do  as  we  should.  Some 
time  we  will  have  the  opportunity  of  walking,  with  brother 
or  husband,  son  or  friend,  and  cast  your  vote  for  right. 
Let  us  have  no  official  state  call  for  this  work ;  we  do  not 
want  it.  Do  this,  ladies,  "for  God,  and  home,  and  native 
land."  Orsini. 


Sf)M|-,   ()|-    lll'.R    Ll|-F.    I'^XI'l-.UIIiNCES.  4i7 

Tlic  Icllci-  ;il)()vc'  is  reproduced  for  several  reasons,  the 
first  of  which  is  lo  show  ])ul)Hc  opinion  as  it  was  in  those 
clays  as  rcjT;ar(ls  woman's  position  in  society. 

Second.  To  preserve  the  record  of  the  past,  by  which 
to' jud|L;e  Ihe  present,  and  estimate  the  fntnre. 

At  tliat  lime  the  country  was  flooded  with  similar  [)ro- 
duelious,  usually  wrilten  by  men,  thonmh  often  under  the 
guise  of   women. 

Twenty-five  years  hence  this  letter  will  be  looked  upon 
as  a  real  curiosity,  and  as  such,  and  to  show  the  progress 
we  have  made,  should  be  preserved. 

We  have  already  passed  far  beyond  that  age,  and  thus, 
step  by  step,  we  have  forged  ahead,  until  now  we  are  face 
to  face  with  the  "Smart  Set," — that  great  phalanx  of  wealth, 
fashion,  and  beauty. 

This  is  a  foe  worthy  our  steel,  for  we  know  that  pots, 
and  kettles,  and  other  dirty  things  at  least  will  not  be  used 
against  us  in  this  battle  for  humanity. 

And,  furthermore,  we  are  encouraged  in  that  we  know 
that  from  the  beginning  of  time  it  has  always  been  the 
wheel  horse  that  moved  the  cart. 

Portland,  Or.,  April  -i,  1886. 
Mrs.  Davenport — My  Dear  Friend : 

Yours  just  received  and  contents  noted.  First.  A\'e.  the 
committee,  do  not  wish  to  dictate  to  the  ladies  of  any  part 
of  the  state  how  they  should  or  must  work.  We  merely 
suggest.  We  believe  they  are  as  capable  as  we  are,  and  are 
better  judges  of  the  people  with  whom  they  have  to  work. 

As  to  working  at  the  polls.  I  conscientiously  believe  that 
the  end  will  justify  the  means.  We  are  not  working  merely 
for  the  God-given  right  to  vote,  but  for  the  great  good  we 
hope  to  accomplish  through  that  power,  privilege,  or  right, 
to  vote.  Now,  if  every  man  who  will  vote  on  this  question 
knew  and  understood  what  he  was  voting  for,  then  I  should 
object  to  working  at  the  polls.     But  there  will  be  hundreds, 


448  Dr.  (3\vens  -  Adair. 

yes,  thousands,  who  will  vote  on  this  all-important  ques- 
tion who  will  not  have  even  a  conception  of  what  the  amend- 
ment means.  And  as  this  element  will  be  utilized  I  believe 
it  is  our  duty  to  utilize  it,  as  far  as  we  honorably  can,  to 
further  a  good  and  just  cause.  Why  should  we  stand  idly 
by,  and  allow  our  enemies  to  win  in  this  battle?  No,  no, 
my  friend,  God  will  answer  our  prayers  when  we  prove  our 
trust  in  Him  by  putting  our  shoulders  to  the  wheel  with  a 
w'ill,  and  a  determination  to  defeat  this,  our  enemy.  Crom- 
well said  to  his  soldiers :  "Trust  in  God,  and  keep  your 
powder  dr}.'"  I  believe  we  are  justified  in  fighting  this 
battle  to  win,  and  I  am  in  favor  of  staying  in  the  field  until 
it  is  either  won  or  lost.  I  am  not  willing  to  leave  this  ques- 
tion to  ignorant  voters,  nor  designing  enemies.  I  confess 
that  I  have  more  faith  in  the  solid,  practical  work  of  em- 
bodied spirits  than  I  have  in  any  good  results  that  might 
be  made  upon  ignorant  voters  through  the  agency  of  our 
"good  guardian  angels." 

I  have  learned  through  long  experience  that  if  I  do  not 
attend  to  my  own  business,  no  one  will  attend  to  it  for  me. 
If  we  win,  we  will  be  honored ;  if  we  lose,  we  shall  at  least 
be  respected.  Did  not  the  temperance  women  in  the  East, 
a  few  months  ago,  work  at  the  polls?  And  have  they  not 
received  praise   and   honor  throughout  the   land? 

No,  I  can  see  no  wrong  in  our  working  at  the  polls.  And 
I  have  been  told  by  men  that  we  could  swell  our  vote  by  so 
doing,  at  least  1,000  in  Portland  alone. 

I  am  sorry  that  I  do  not  know  of  some  speaker,  but  I  do 
not.     We  must  work  with  such  material  as  w-e  have. 
Yours  very  respectfully, 

B.  A.  Owens. 


SoMK  oi'  IIi;k  LiI'I':  I'-xpkriences,  449 

WOMICN    AT   'IJIIC    I'OIJ-S. 

Portland,  Or.,  May  20.  IHHG. 
To  the  iulitor  of  the  Oregonian  : 

I  am  pleased  to  sec  our  able  "Superintendent  of  Press 
Work"  come  to  the  front  this  morning  with  explanations 
and  wise  lo^ic  conceruini;-  that  much-talkcd-of  subject, 
"Women  at  the  Polls." 

Now,  it  is  not  strange  that  people  of  equal  intelligence 
will  see  things  from  different  standpoints,  for  such  has  been 
the  case  from  the  beginning  of  time.  Therefore  we  are 
not  sur])rised  that  this,  one  of  the  purest  motives  of  the  W. 
C.  T.  11".,  should  be  jjicked  to  pieces  and  shown  up  to  say 
the  least  in  aspects  most  objectionable. 

We  arc  admonished  by  one  not  to  go  to  the  polls  as  sup- 
pliants, as  that  would  be  degrading  to  our  dignity  and  self- 
respect. 

My  friends,  no  person  ever  stultified  his  manhood,  or 
injured  his  reputation  by  doing-  even  the  most  disagreeable 
work  for  the  good  of  humanity.  Is  it  pleasant,  and  is  it 
foolish  for  our  officers  of  the  Social  Purity  Department  to 
go  down  into  the  dens  of  iniquity  and  vice,  and  there  plead 
with  depravity  in  its  vilest  forms?  W^as  it  pleasant,  and 
was  it  foolish  for  the  crusaders  to  begin  this  grand  work 
where  they  did,  in  the  lowest  and  vilest  saloons  in  the  land? 
That  great  organization,  the  W.  C.  T.  U.,  which  to-day 
numbers  300,000  earnest  and  devoted  women,  is  the  first- 
born of  that  crusade  of  fourteen  years  ago. 

The  Prohibition  party  of  to-day,  which  is  shedding  light 
upon  our  nation,  is  the  grandchild  of  this  same  crusade 
movement. 

We  are  accused  of  advocating  this  move  in  the  hope  of 
influencing  voters  by  petty  little  feminine  wiles,  and  also 
that  we  expect  to  buy  votes  with  lemonade  and  buttonhole 
bouquets.  Now-,  nothing  could  be  more  foreign  to  our  in- 
tention than  this,     ^^"e  all  know  that  it  is  not  onlv  right, 


450  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

but  the  duty  of  good  men  to  go  to  the  polls  and  work. 
Then  why  should  not  women  be  encouraged  to  do  likewise? 
Where  it  is  respectacle  for  men  to  go,  it  should  be  respect- 
able for  women  to  go.  It  has  been  the  custom  for  centuries, 
in  great  and  small  undertakings,  especially  when  the  social 
element  ei:'.-"'-'='d  into  the  work,  to  provide  some  form  of  re- 
freshment, or  beverage  by  which  the  parties  would  pledge 
themselves  to  the  work  under  consideration.  It  has  been, 
and  still  is,  the  custom  of  our  native  Americans  to  have 
ready  the  pipe  of  peace,  that  it  may  be  passed  around  as 
a  sacred  pledge  of  friendship.  Alcoholic  drinks  have  been 
used  for  generations  as  a  pledge  of  fidelity  and  friendship 
in  social  gatherings.  This  custom  has  become  so  fixed  upon 
us,  as  a  nation,  that  few  persons,  even  church  members,  are 
brave  enough  to  give  a  dinner  or  marriage  supper  without 
champagne  and  other  wines.  "I  do  not  believe  in  it  myself, 
but  then,  you  know,  custom  demands  it." 

Now,  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  does  not  object  to  pledges.  Indeed, 
we  advocate  pledges,  but  we  are  particular  as  to  the  contents 
of  the  glass  in  which  the  pledge  is  taken  and  sealed.  We 
would  prefer  that  the  pledge  be  taken  with  the  beverage 
which  God  Himself  provided  for  all  minkind,  "pure  spark- 
ling water."  We  do  not,  however,  object  to  the  addition  of 
a  spoonful  of  sugar  and  a  few  drops  of  lemon  juice,  for 
they  are  healthful  and  harmless.  And,  furthermore,  wo  do 
have  faith  in  men,  to  believe  that  if  they  pledge  themselves 
to  vote  for  a  temperance  man  or  for  our  ticket,  they  will 
not  forget  their  promise  before  they  reach  the  ballot  box. 

Last  year,  during  the  long,  hot  summer,  the  W.  C.  T.  U. 
kept  a  barrel  of  ice  water  in  front  of  the  rooms  of  the  Y. 
M.  C.  A.  to  prevent  men  being  forced  to  frequent  beer  halls 
to  quench  their  thirst.  One  gentleman  said  he  was  sure 
that  this  was  a  loss  of  at  least  $50  a  day  to  the  saloon- 
keeper opposite.     Said  he : 


SoMi';  <ti''   lli'.K   Ijm:   I'".\i'I':i<iknces.  451 

"I  was  ill  llu'  liabit  of  .speiulin<4'  .'iO  or  '10  cents  a  day  for 
beer,  not  tliat  I  cared  for  beer,  just  to  keep  cooled  off," 

Ag'ain,  the  temperance  people  all  over  the  state  are  takinj< 
up  subscri])tions  ff)r  temperance  literature,  and  sendinj^  it 
wherever  we  think  we  can  influence  votes.  And  is  this  not 
lej^^itimate?  'No,  my  frirnrls,  wc  are  not  proposinpf  to  buy 
votes,  not  even  with  llowcrs  and  lemonade.  And  should 
they  be  provided,  too,  T  can  sec  no  objection,  for  they  are 
innocent,  and  can  do  no  harm.  F  am  sure  they  cannot  be 
accused  of  robbing'  any  man  fif  his  senses,  of  sending  him 
home    rcclin,q"   dnink    from    the   polls. 

Another  very  imi)ortant  reason  why  we  should  go  to  the 
polls  next  June  is  that  we  have  a  lady  candidate  on  the  ticket, 
whom  we  are  very  anxious  to  see  elected.  Should  any 
woman  in  Portland  be  ashamed  to  go  to  the  polls  and  ask 
any  man  to  vote  for  Mrs.  Alice  Clauson  Gove  for  School 
Superintendent? 

I  hope  to  see  hundreds  of  her  lady  friends  at  the  polls 
asking  votes  for  her.  Any  lady  has  the  right  and  privilege 
to  go  to  the  polls.  T  have  no  fears  but  that  the  ladies  can. 
and  will  conduct  themselves  with  as  much  propriety  as  they 
do  in  the  streets  of  this  city. 

Dr.  Owexs-Adair. 

\\'omex  at  the  rolltxg  places. 

For  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  this  city  women  have 
appeared  at  the  polling  places  offering  tickets  and  soliciting 
votes.  The  plan,  as  carried  out,  is  simple  and  unostenta- 
tious. The  women  are  stationed  about  half  a  block  from 
each  polling  place,  by  a  stand,  covered  with  temperance  lit- 
erature, prohibition  tickets,  and  flowers,  and  deal  out  to 
such  as  will  take  them  their  tracts  and  tickets,  and  to  such 
as  will  listen,  their  arguments  in  favor  of  prohibition.  The 
women  engaged  in  the  Avork  are  all  past  middle  life,  quiet 
and  ladylike,  and  report  having  met  kindness  and  considera- 


452  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

tion  from  the  voters  whom  they  addressed.  Both  their  zeal 
in  the  cause  of  temperance  and  their  bravery  in  its  advocacy 
arc  unquestioned,  and  it  is  impossible  to  witness  what  must 
be,  to  an  independent  spirit,  the  humiliating  position  of  these 
earnest  workers  without  respecting  their  zeal,  even  if  it  is 
considered  mistaken. 


So.Mi-;  (II-    IIi:k    I. hi:    I  EXPERIENCES.  453 


CIIAI'TIOK   XXXIV. 

A.NSWKk     ID    CKIIK  ISM. 

April  ^1,  1885. 
To  (Ik-   l''.(lilor : 

I  beg"  space  to  reply  to  S.  D.  (Saloon  Defender)  in  yours 
of  the  20th,  who  would  make  sport  of  our  worthy  nominee, 
E.  C.  Bronaugh,  who  comes  boldly  forward  and  declares 
that  he  is  an  enemy  of  whisky,  which  is  the  acknowledged 
curse  of  the  country. 

I  admit  that  the  whisk_v  traffic  has  been  required  to  assist 
in  the  building-  of  our  penitentiaries,  jails,  and  insane  asy- 
lums ;  but  I  assert  that  it  has  furnished  nine-tenths  of  all 
the  occupants  of  these  lamentable  institutions.  This  is  no 
wild  assertion.  Every  lawyer  aiid  every  doctor  of  eminence 
and  ability  knows  that  it  is  true. 

A  brig'ht  young  attorney  said  to  me  the  other  day  while 
discussing  this  subject: 

"Well  I  know  that  nine-tenths  of  all  the  divorce  cases 
and  trouble  in  families  are  caused  by  liquor,  and  I  would 
like   to    see    it   go." 

In  conversation  with  our  estimable  Governor  Thayer  last 
week  on  prohibition  he  said : 

'T  think  perhaps  nine-tenths  of  all  the  inmates  of  the 
penitentiary  in  this  state  may  owe  their  incarceration  to 
liquor,  but  I  do  not  think  you  can  claim  that  percentage  of 
our  insane." 

My  answer  was  that  the  cause  is  certainly  one  and  the 
same,  but  the  trouble  is  that  while  the  cause  is  apparent 
and  easily  traced  in  the  case  of  the  convicted  criminal,  it 
is,  in  the  majority  of  cases,  obscure  and  hard  to  trace  in 
the   insane. 


4o4  Dr.  Owens  -  Apair. 

Hear  what  the  eminent  Dr.  A.  B.  Pahner  has  to  say  on 
tliis  vital  subject — he  who  has  been  a  professor  of  theory 
and  practice  for  more  than  thirty  years,  who  has  been  hon- 
ored and  quoted  as  authority  by  the  great  scientists,  both  of 
Europe  and  our  own  country.     He  says : 

"Every  permanent  condition  of  the  organism ;  every  habit 
of  body  or  mind  in  the  parent,  has  an  influence,  greater  or 
lesser,  upon  the  qualities  and  tendencies  of  the  offspring. 
We  can  make  ourselves  what  we  will,  only  within  certain 
limitations,  and  our  innate  propensities,  at  least,  however 
they  may  be  controlled,  are  received  from  our  ancestors,  and 
are  apt  to  govern  us. 

"Morbid  qualities  of  a  mild  character  in  the  parents  may 
be  exaggerated  in  the  offspring.  Thus,  inebriety  with  its 
ordinary  perversions  in  the  parent  may  become  idocy  or 
insanity  in  the  child,  and  moderate  drinking  in  the  father, 
creating  an  appetite  which  in  him  is  controlled,  may  pro- 
duce drunkenness  in  the  son,  or  dipsomania  in  the  son  or 
grandson,  Avhich  may  be  beyond  all  control." 

Add  to  this  the  testimony  of  the  distinguished  surgeon 
of  London,  Henry  Thompson,  who  sa3''s : 

"Few  are  aware  of  the  great  mischief  done  by  the  mod- 
erate use  of  fermented  liquors." 

I  ask,  should  parents  in  their  ignorance  be  allowed  to 
poison  the  blood  of  their  innocent  and  helpless  offspring? 
Should  men  and  women  be  allowed  to  contract  disease,  and 
vicious  habits,  and  with  them  propagate,  and  bring  forth 
mental  and  physical  monstrocities  with  which  to  curse  our 
land?  Should  our  government  have  no  will  in  these  im- 
portant matters?  Must  w^e  forever  be  forced  to  build  insti- 
tutions with  iron  bars  and  grated  doors  to  protect  society? 
No,  sir !  We  believe  the  time  has  come  when  our  people 
shall  be  made  to  realize  and  understand  the  importance  of 
these  great  cjuestions  which  involve  the  life  and  Avell-being 
of  our  nation. 


SoMi;  nv   lli.K   I  III:   ICxi'KuiiiNCKS.  455 

"OUH    WANDI'IUING    BOY"   AGAIN. 

Portlaiul,  Or.,  March  22,  1887. 
To  the   iMlitdi-  (if  tlif  ( Jrcponian  : 

T  liavc  canrull)  read  your  article  a^'ainst  ])roliil)itif)n  in 
last  Sunday's  ( )rcjT;onian  luaded,  "Where  Is  My  Wanrlering 
Boy  To-Nif2:ht?"  I'lirou.nii  your  kindness  I  would  like  to 
reply  briefly  in  tln'  interest  of  "the  wandering  boy." 

iMrst,  T  say  to  that  great  array  of  talent  and  purity  you 
cite  to  show  that  "|)rohibition  is  a  delusion  and  vicious 
means  to  the  end  of  the  reduction  of  intemperance,"  we  pro- 
hibitionists have  brought  forth  equally  as  good  proof  in  favor 
of  the  successful  working  of  prohibition.  And  this,  too,  in 
the  face  of  the  fact  that  prohibition  is  still  in  its  infancy.  One 
of  our  latest  proofs  is  found  in  today's  Oregonian,  and  reads 

as    follows : 

"Leavenworth,    Kas..   ]\Iarch   18,   1887. 

"J.   VV.  Webb.  Oregon: 

"Ydur  telegram  received.  There  is  not  a  saloon  in 
Leavenworth. 

(Signed)  "F.  S.  Nealy." 

Mr.  Nealy  is  the  Mayor  of  Leavenworth,  and  doubtless 
knows  as  much  about  his  city  as  Mr.  John  Gates  knows 
about  Portland. 

This  is  the  kind  of  work,  I  am  proud  to  say.  that  this 
"band  of  sentimental  reformers"  are  engaged  in.  And  this 
little  band  of  "fools"  and  "cranks'"  I  verily  believe -are  fast 
reaching  out  into  the  millions,  and  will,  in  the  near  future, 
include  a  majority  of  all  the  thinking  minds  of  our  splendid 
country.  "Father,  dear  father,  why  don't  you  come  home?" 
will  not  be  asked  by  thousands  of  anxious  wives  and  chil- 
dren in  our  own  fair  Portland  two  years  hence,  if  the  con- 
stitutional amendment  is  carried,  and  our  ]\Iaypr  and  other 
city  ot^cials  do  their  duty.  Then  if  the  dear  father  and 
"wandering  boy"  do  not  come  home  at  the  proper  time  their 
absence  will  not  create  so  much  fear  and  trembling. 


45G  Dr.  Owexs  -  Adair. 

We  do  not  expect  that  prohibition  is  going  to  work 
miracles  or  make  men  good  all  at  once,  but  we  do  expect 
it  to  make  them  better,  b}-  helping  them  to  overcome  their 
vicious  tastes  and  habits.  Who  can  expect  to  train  up  a 
child  proper!}''  while  allowing  it  to  associate  with  low  and 
degraded  companions?  What  effect  will  your  advice  to 
your  son  against  using  tobacco  have,  if  he  sees  you  daily 
smoking?  Or  against  liquor,  if  he  is  accustomed  to  see 
it  at  home  upon  your  table,  and  sees  his  father  and  other 
respectacle  men  going  into  saloons  daily?  Judge  Cooley, 
the  great  jurist  of  Michigan,  said  to  me :  "What  a  blessing 
it  would  be  if  we  could  only  get  our  children  to  profit  by 
our  experiences.  But  it  seems  to  be  a  law  of  nature  that 
each  one  must  learn  by  his  own  experience,  especially  when 
surrounded  by  temptation." 

The  saloonkeeper  pays  the  government  for  the  privilege 
of  carrying  on  his  business,  and  thereby  acquires  a  right  to 
the  respect  and  protection  of  the  government.  Our  children 
are  taught  at  home  and  at  school  that  our  government  is 
a  great  and  glorious  institution — the  best  and  greatest  on 
earth.  This  great  and  good  government  authorizes  the  sale 
of  rum  so  freely  that  her  most  respectable  citizens  offer  it 
to  their  customers.  Even  our  grocerymen  pay  a  license  for 
the  privilege  of  supplying  their  customers  with  ale  and  beer. 
A  few  evenings  .since  I  happened  into  one  of  the  best  and 
oldest  grocery  stores  in  the  city,  and  upon  seeing  several 
boxes  filled  with  bottles  I  asked  what  was  in  them.  The 
proprietor,  whom  I  know  to  be  an  honorable  man,  answered : 
"Beer  and  ale."  I  said :  "Is  it  possible  you  sell  beer  and 
ale  ?"  He  replied :  "Yes,  I  do ;  but  not  because  I  want  to 
sell  it,  for  I  don't  use  it  myself,  but  my  business  requires  me 
to  keep  it  in  stock."  He  added :  "I  pay  for  my  license,  and 
that  is  more  than  a  good  many  do."  To  my  amazement  I 
then  learned  that  every  grocery  store  in  Portland,  with 
perhaps  three  exceptions,  keep  wine  and  beer  for  sale,  and 


SdAM',    oI'     I  Ilk    1,111.    I  ^. \  I -KU I  !■:.%' CMS.  4'>7 

my  friend  finllur  s;iiil  lli;il  lie  iiitcii(k'(l  votinjj^  for  tlic 
aniciidiiuiit,  ;m(l  Imped  Id  sec  tlic  day. when  liquor  licenses 
would  he  tiiiohlainahlc.  \'cs,  wc  do  believe  that  a  "change 
of  law"  ])roliil)iUns'  llie  sale  of  liquor  would  brinj^  about  a 
"cliaiii^e  of  heart."  How  often  do  we  hear  it  said  :  "He 
is  a  j;"(X)d  man,  when  not  under  the  influence  of  liquor." 
Or,  "He  was  a  _qrand  man,  until  liquor  <:^ot  the  ujjper  hand 
of  him."  ^'()U  say  tliat  tlic  law  answers  the  mother  that  it 
does  not  know  where  her  "wandering  boy"  is;  it  is  none  of 
its  business.  .  Well,  then,  we  think  that  the  saloonkeeper 
who  is  cared  for  and  ])rotected  by  the  law  would  have  less 
difficulty  in  answering  this  mother's  question,  for  it  is  part 
of  her  business  to  know  where  the  dear  father  and  wander- 
ing boy  are.  We  believe  that  the  law  should  reach  out  its 
protecting  arms,  es])ecially  to  the  weak  and  helpless.  It 
does  say :  "You  shall  not  keep  an  opium  joint,  or  gambling 
house,"  and  to  the  druggist :  "You  shall  not  sell  poison, 
except  for  medicinal  purpose."  But  to  the  saloonkeeper 
it  virtually  says :  "Go  on  selling  liquor,  which  brings  more 
distress  and  destruction  to  human  life  than  all  the  other 
evils  combined ;  sell  away,  and  as  long  as  you  pay  your 
license  I  will  protect  you  against  all  damage  suits." 

The  poet  Whittier  was,  by  nature,  a  moral  man.  He  did 
not  lind  it  necessary  to  battle  with  vicious  tendencies  and 
appetites.  Such  persons  as  a  rule  are  not  so  competent  to 
judge  of  the  proper  treatment  or  punishment  to  be  meted 
out  to  those  more  unfortunate.  We  usually  judge  others  by 
ourselves,  and  if  we  are  blessed  with  strong  will  power,  and 
can  easily  surmount  difficulties,  and  overcome  bad  habits, 
we  frequently  proceed  to  lay  down  rules  for  others  to  fol- 
low. Rules  that  would  be  just  to  us  might  be  unjust  to 
those  who  are  differently  constituted. 

The  lives  of  a  few  individuals  cannot  be  taken  to  prove 
general  laws.  If  they  could,  the  lives  of  Daniel  \\'ebster. 
Edgar  A.  Poe,  General  Grant  and  a  host  of  others  would 
weight  heavily   for  prohibition. 

^IrS.  OwEXi>ADAIR,  ]\I.  D. 


458  Dr.  Owexs  -  Adair. 

''anti-S-XLOOX  movement." 

Portland,  Or.,  August  1. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  Oreg"onian : 

I  cannot  resist  the  temptation  to  make  a  few  comments 
on  the  article  "Anti-Saloon  Movement"  in  to-day's  Ore- 
gonian.  Especially  am  I  prompted  to  do  this  from  the 
fact  that,  on  my  way  home  from  the  Congregational 
Church,  where  I  had  listened  to  a  beautiful  and  impressive 
sermon  on  "?\Ianhood  and  Manliness"  by  Rev.  Dr.  Clapp, 
I  passed  by  two  saloons  on  the  same  block,  one  with  the  side 
and  the  other  with  the  front  door  standing  wide  open,  with 
streams  of  men  pouring  in  and  out.  And  this,  too,  in  the 
face  of  a  well-known  Sunday  law. 

It  fills  my  soul  with  great  joy  that  the  great  Repub- 
lican party  has  at  last  been  forced  to  call  an  anti-saloon 
conference.  However  this  may  terminate ;  whatever  course 
or  plan  they  may  decide  upon,  one  thing  is  certain,  the 
movement  will  add  strength  and  power  to  prohibition. 
That  in  time  it  must  come  to  this  great  issue,  all  deep  think- 
ers and  far-seers  know,  and  that  at  no  distant  day  this 
nation  will  be  divided  upon  this  the  most  momentuous  ques- 
tion our  people  have  ever  been  called  upon  to  decide.  For 
soon  the  temperance  people  will  drive  this  balance  of  power 
(the  whisky  element)  from  the  center  of  the  "teeter-board" 
into  one  or  the  other  of  the  great  political  parties.  Then  we 
will  meet  them  on  the  open  field  of  battle;  and  will  teach 
them  what  morality  and  "personal  liberty"  mean.  We  will 
teach  them  that  the  thousands  of  wretched  wives  and  help- 
less children  whom  they  have  robbed  have  "personal  rights," 
as  well  as  distillers,  brewers,  and  saloonkeepers.  They 
will  also  learn  that  this  nation  can  exist  without  a  "little 
wine  for  the  stomach's  sake." 

We  are  told  in  this  article,  as  we  are  told  ever}  day,  that 
a  prohibition  law  has  existed  in  several  states,  and  in  one 
for  thirty  years,  and  still  prohibition  is  not  a  success.    If  this 


Some  of  Hick  Lii-k  I'^xi'i:i<ii:nc:ks.  4o9 

statcnu'iit  is  Inic,  why  does  the  saloon  powir  ni?ht  it  so  des- 
perately? That  it  spares  no  time,  trouble  or  money  to  <le- 
feat  a  i)n)hil)ition  law,  proves  that  it  does  praetically  pro- 
hihil,  and  (hey  know  it. 

Ijut  snpposin,^'  it  to  he  true,  I  ask  how  could  we  exjject  it 
to  he  a  success  in  all  those  localities  where  there  is  either 
a  Kepnhlican  nr  a  1  )c'niiici-alic  parly  hoUling  the  reins  of 
state?  x\re  not  both  ccjutrolled  by  the  saloon  power?  One 
party  rides  into  the  While  House  on  a  barrel  of  whisky, 
while  the  (ither  reaches  that  distinguished  place  oi  honor 
astride  a  keg"  of  beer.  Is  it  strange  Engiand  .should  have 
called  us  a  nation  of  drunkards?  And  this  accursed  bever- 
age continues  to  llow^  unceasingly  throughout  each  admin- 
istration, unless  the  occupant  of  the  presidential  chair  is 
blessed  with  a  wife  wdio  possesses  sufficient  firmness  of  char- 
acter and  Christian  fortitude  to  say : 

"Wine  shall  not  disgrace  the  table  of  the  White  House 
while  I  preside  as  its  mistress." 

Thank  God  that  our  Executive  Mansion  has  been  blessed 
by  such  a  one.  The  honored  name  of  Lucy  W'ebb  Hayes 
will  continue  to  shine  beside  that  of  the  immortal  Frances 
Willard  throughout  the  annals  of  history  as  a  bright  and 
luminous  star  to  bless  and  encourage  all  woniankind. 

A  prohibition  party  is  what  we  w-ant  to  secure ;  a  national 
constitutional  amendment.  The  breaking  up  of  the  Repub- 
lican party  in  the  North,  and  the  prohibition  element  in  the 
South,  will  furnish  us  a  pow^erful  leverage  in  this  direction. 

A  prominent  Republican  politician  said  to  me,  in  our  pres- 
ent campaign :  "Why  are  you  prohibitionists  working 
against  your  ow'n  interests  ?  We  have  given  you  everything 
you  asked  for,  and  now  }'ou  are  repaying  us  by  tr}-ing  to 
elect  your  worst  enemy,  the  whisky  party." 

I  replied :  "Oh,  yes,  we  know  how  kind  you  have  been, 
to  give  us  just  such  laws  as  we  want,  but  we  also  know^  that 
\ou  never  have  enforced,  and  never  intend  to  enforce  the 


4G0  Dk.  Owens  -  Adair. 

laws, which  you  enacted.  You  will  find  that  we  are  in  ear- 
nest, and  that  we  are  not  at  all  particular  which  of  the 
whisky  parties  we  work  against.  We  are  not  fighting  party, 
but  whisky." 

Never  has  the  sky  looked  so  cloudless  to  this  young,  but 
vigorous  human  part}-  as  today.  Two  years  hence  the  pro- 
hibition party  of  Oregon  will  again  come  to  the  front  with 
renewed  courage  and  increased  members,  and  show  the 
doubting  ones  that  she  has  not  forgotten  that  her  vote  last 
June  showed  the  greatest  increase  for  prohibition  for  one 
and  a  half  years,  of  an}^  state  in  the  Union. 

Mrs.  0\n^ens-Adair,  M.  D. 

DR.    ADAIR's    report    OF    INTERVIEWS    OF    A    COMMITTEE    WITH 
BUSINESS    MEN. 

A  few  weeks  ago  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  of  Portland,  believing 
that  the  time  had  come  when  men  aspiring  to  the  position 
of  law-makers  should  be  asked  to  express  themselves  on 
the  most  important  issue  before  the  American  people  today, 
drew  up  a  pledge,  and  published  it  in  the  leading  news- 
papers, notifying  the  candidates  of  the  three  respective  par- 
ties, that  they  would  be  waited  upon  by  the  ladies,  and  given 
an  opportunity  to  make  their  record  clean  by  appending  their 
signatures  to  this  pledge,  that  did  not  require  them  to  vote 
for  prohibition,  or  the  third  party,  but  simply  to  work  and 
vote  fci  the  amendment  to  the  Keady  bill,  which  would  make 
it  effectual  as  a  local  option  law.  These  gentlemen  have  been 
interviewed,  with  the  exception  of  two  or  three,  whose  resi- 
dences are  remote,  or  who  were  out  in  the  canvass,  so  that 
the  committee  was  unable  to  find  them.  All  the  candidates 
for  legislative  honors  on  the  third  partv  ticket  signed  the 
petition,  but  the  Republican  and  Dem>')cratic  candidates  de- 
clined. Now,  voters  of  Oregon,  and  especially  oi  Multno- 
mah county,  read,  pause,  and  reflect  before  you  cast  your 
vote  on  Monday  morning  next.     For  the  benefit  of  the  cu- 


SoMP.  (»!•  Tlij.;  T.iKK  Experiences.  4.61 

rioiis,  vvc  j^ivc  a  sketch  of  some  of  the  interviews,  which,  after 
all,  proved  not  to  be  so  very  unpleasant.  To  be^in  with: 
We  arc  pleased  to  say  we  were  in  every  case  most  graciously 
received  by  all  the  candidates.  This  might  l)e  considered 
sufficient  for  us  to  report ;  still,  there  were  some  pleasing  and 
interesting  incidents  connected  with  our  work.  One  fine- 
looking  legal  gentleman  informed  the  committee  that  he 
would  take  the  matter  under  advisement  until  alter  the  7th 
of  June  next.  Another  thought  it  was  pretty  hard  to  ask 
him  to  sign  a  pledge,  when  we  had  a  ticket  of  our  own  in 
the  field. 

Another  would  not  pledge  himself  to  a  party  that  would 
not  pledge  itself  to  support  him. 

Still  another  did  not  believe  at  all  in  pledges. 

One  good  brother  thought  it  was  a  trick  to  defeat  the 
"Grand  Old  Party." 

Others,  notably  a  member  of  the  educational  board,  com- 
mended our  work  in  the  schools,  and  Bands  of  Hope,  as 
affecting  the  habits  of  the  rising  generation  for  good.  One 
informed  us  we  should  appeal  to  the  party  managers,  in- 
stead of  the  candidates.  This  answer  was,  indeed,  signifi- 
cant, and  tells  the  whole  story. 

All  w'ere  in  favor  of  temperance,  but  did  not  wish  to  com- 
mit themselves  by  signing  our  pledge. 

In  behalf  of  the  committee. 

Dr.  Owexs-Adair- 

woman's  influence  for  evil,     how  a  clergyman  was 
ruined  by  a  hostess'  criminal  thoughtlessness. 

A  recent  sermon  by  Rev.  Herbert  Johnson,  at  the  Warren 
Avenue  Baptist  Church  in  Boston,  was  entitled,  "The  True 
Story  of  a  Clergyman  and  a  Glass  of  Wine."  It's  moral 
was  that  total  abstinence  is  the  only  safe  policy.  Mr.  John- 
son's principal  reason  for  declaring  that  wine  is  an  enemy 
of  human  kind  was  that  in  taking  a  single  glass,  a  man  may 


462  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

awaken  a  hereditary  and  dormant  taste  for  drink  which  can 
never  afterward  be  assuaged,  and  that  may  eventually  grow 
to  proportions  where  it  will  be  beyond  his  control.  He  then 
told  the  story  of  the  clergyman  and  his  glass  of  wine,  the 
subject  of  the  story  having  been  a  barkeeper  and  drunkard, 
who  had  reformed,  and  become  a  pulpit  orator  scarcely  less 
powerful  than  Henry  Ward  Beecher. 

This  minister  was  one  evening  a  guest  at  a  reception 
given  by  a  yoinig,  and  very  rich  woman,  a  teacher  in  his 
Sunday-school,  and  a  member  of  his  church.  Several  of 
the  guests  urged  the  pastor  to  take  wine,  but  he  steadily  re- 
fused. Finally  the  young  hostess,  who  was  very  beautiful, 
begged  him  to  join  her  in  a  glass,  and  though  he  several 
times  declined,  remembering  his  former  weakness,  her 
charms  at  last  prevailed,  and  he  fell. 

That  night  after  the  reception,  he  disappeared,  and  was 
not  found  till  four  days  later,  while  the  church  bells  were 
calling  the  Godly  to  their  morning  devotions,  the  board  of 
deacons  found  their  pastor  on  an  improvised  bed  in  the  rear 
of  a  bar-room,  afflicted  with  the  worst  kind  of  an  attack  of 
delerium  tremens. 

He  lost  his  pastorate,  and  became  a  wanderer  on  the  face 
of  the  earth.  The  last  heard  of  him,  he  was  occupied  in  go- 
ing on  frequent  sprees,  and  practicing  law  in  his  sober  in- 
tervals. 

Mr.  Johnson  drew  two  lessons  from  this  incident :  "Never 
take  a  drop  of  intoxicating  licjuor  yourself,  and  never  offer 
it  to  another." 

(Many  people  of  Oregon  will  remember  the  preacher 
above  referred  to  as  at  one  time  one  of  Portland's  most  tal- 
ented speakers ;  also  the  woman  who  tempted  him.  The 
last  part  of  the  program  is  quite  familiar  to  the  people  of 
I\Iarshfield.) 


SoMi-,  Ml-  lli.K  I.iii:  l'"xi'i':i<iKNCKS.  463 

Salciii,  ()rvi^()U,  January  15,  1SH5. 
Mrs.  Dr.  OwcMis-Adair, 
Dear  M  aflame : 

Yours  received.  We  will  be  fi^lad  lo  see  you.  The  Senate 
has  its  coniniitlees,  hut  the  Mouse  has  not  api)ointcd  its  com- 
mittees, up  to  this  writinj,^  tliouj:(h  T  learn  that  it  will,  dur- 
ins;-  the  day.  Your  hill  is  a  good  one,  aiul  (iu,i,du  to  go  through 
without  much  delay.  Tt  is  a  matter  of  cducatir)n.  There 
will  he  no  committees  called  together  tliis  week. 

Let  me  suggest  how  this  business  is  clone.  Get  a  good 
man  to  introduce  the  bill,  and  have  it  referred  to  the  Com- 
mittee on  Education.  Then  have  it  understood  when  the 
committee  will  meet,  so  the  friends  of  the  bill  can  be  hearrl. 
The  State  Board  of  h^ducation  consists  of  the  Governor, 
Secretary  of  State  and  the  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruc- 
tion, and  meets  four  times  a  year.  This  board  has  nothing 
to  do  with  making  laws.  The  Committee  on  Education  in 
both  Houses  will  control  the  matter,  and  they  are  to  be  con- 
sulted whenever  they  appoint  a  meeting.  Their  meetings 
Mali  not  be  joint  meetings. 

S.  F.  CiiAnwiCK. 

CHAIUAFAN   EiXECUTIVE  C0M^^TTTEE. 

Dear  Sir : 

Your  card  received.  I  was  not  aware  that  the  Rev.  'Sir. 
Webb's  mantle  was  to  fall  upon  my  shoulders,  but  if  it  has 
been  placed  there,  I  shall  not  refuse  to  wear  it. 

I  shall,  therefore,  proceed  immediately  toward  organizing 
a  Multnomah  county  alliance. 

I  am  willing  to  serve  this  cause  in  any  capacity  in  which 
I  am  competent  to  work,  and  I  shall  not  shirk  from  any  duty 
required  of  me.  ]\'Irs.  Riggs  and  I  drove  twelve  miles  into 
the  countr}-  on  last  Sabbath,  where  a  large  congregation 
met  us.  I  spoke  at  11  a.  m.  and  2  p.  m.,  after  which  !Mrs. 
Riggs  organized  a  \\\  C.  T.  U.,  with  twenty-six  members. 


464  Dr.  Owens  -  Adaik. 

Next  Sabbath  we  go  to  Beaverton,  seven  miles  out  of  Port- 
land, where  I  have  an  appointment  at  2  p.  m.,  after  which 
]\Irs.  Riggs  will  address  the  W.  C.  T.  U.,  and  instruct  them 
in  the  importance  of  the  work.  In  the  evening  we  go  to 
East  Portland,  where  I  speak  in  the  Congregational  church. 
In  all  places  where  I  speak,  I  shall  tr_v  to  do  something  to- 
ward organizing  our  alliance. 

You  ask  me  for  some  items  for  our  Bulletin.  Well,  one 
of  the  most  important  item  of  which  I  know,  is  the  recent 
organization  of  the  Y.  W.  C.  T.  U.,  of  this  place. 

I  am  free  to  say  that  I  am  more  interested  in  the  Young 
Women's  Union  than  I  am  in  the  old.  It  is  just  what  our 
}"Oung  women  need  to  develop  them,  and  bring  out  all  their 
best  powers  for  good.  The  power  for  good  which  they  can 
and  will  wield  is  beyond  all  calculation.  They  can  do  for  the 
young  and  the  old  men  of  our  nation  what  married  women 
and  old  women  cannot  do.  The  sweet,  winning  smile  on  the 
face  of  a  pure,  bright  girl  carries  more  power  with  it  for  the 
redemption  of  man,  than  tons  of  solid  logic  and  scientific 
reasoning. 

I  have  seen  hundreds  of  young  men,  and  man}'^  old  ones 
also,  march  up  to  the  table  and  sign  the  pledge,  and  stand 
up  to  have  the  blue  ribbon  tied  on  b}^  the  delicate  white  hands 
of  our  girls,  who  stood  ready  and  willing  to  aid  in  this 
blessed  work. 

Where  our  girls  go,  there  also  will  our  boys  be  found ; 
and  they  will  make  any  sacrifice  to  obtain  the  good  will  of 
the  young  ladies. 

What  a  devoted  mother  fails  to  do  with  her  wayward 
boy,  his  sweetheart  can  accomplish  with  ease. 

All  that  is  necessary  for  us  to  do  is  to  teach  our  girls  the 
importance  and  beauty  of  this  grand  work,  and  we  can  then 
safely  trust  it  in  their  hands,  and  know  that  it  will  be  well 
done. 

May  God  bless  our  girls,  for  they  will  save  and  bless  our 


SoMi':  f)i'    IIi:k  [jik  I'"xi'i:i<if-:nces.  40o 

boys.     (  )iir   I 'orll.nid  \.  W.  C.  T.   I '.  nrc  .^oiiit,'  to  \vr)rk  in 
earnest,  and  \\c  expect  niiirli   fniin  llieni. 

Ri:i>()IM     TO     NATIO.VAr.    SUPERINTIiNDIiXT    OK     iUlREDVfV    AND 
IIVGIKNE    (IRS.VG). 

Dear  Doctor : 

After  begging'  ])ar(lon  for  my  delay  in  sending  off  my  re- 
port (due  to  absence  from  the  city  and  overwork),  I  will 
say  that  my  labors  during  the  last  year  have  been  largely 
confined  to  writing  and  lecturing.  I  have  delivered  over 
twenty  lectures  in  various  part  of  the  state.  I  had  the  honor 
of  addressing  the  State  Temperance  /Vlliance,  of  from  three 
to  five  thousand  people.  I  delivered  the  essay  on  "Woman's 
Work"  at  the  centennial  celebration.  Also  addressed  the 
Band  of  Hope  on  that  occasion.  I  delivered  the  address  of 
welcome  before  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Good  Templars. 

Most  of  my  lectures  have  been  delivered  in  churches,  to 
large  audiences.  I  feel,  however,  that  my  best  work  has 
been  done  through  the  press.  I  have  written  very  many 
essays  and  communications  (far  too  many  for  me  to  enu- 
merate here),  wdiich  have  been  published  in  the  Oregonian 
and  our  Prohibition  Star,  and  from  them  copied  throughout 
the  state.  This  is  my  plan  of  work,  and  I  feel  that  I  can 
accomplish  far  more  in  this  way  than  in  any  other.  I  in- 
struct my  local  superintendents  regularly  through  our  State 
Bulletin. 

^^'hen  a  communication  goes  into  the  Oregonian,  it  is 
read,  perhaps,  by  10,000  to  30,000  persons,  ^^''hen  pub- 
lished in  the  Star,  it  reaches  from  three  to  five  thousand 
sympathizing  and  interested  individuals. 

I  have  little  time  for  practical  work  in  the  Unions.  Aside 
from  my  professional  duties,  almost  all  my  time  is  devoted 
to  our  temperance  work  in  the  wa}'  of  communications 
through  the  press ;  and  the  calls  upon  me  in  this  direction. 


46G  Dr.  Owens  -  Adaik. 

I  assure  you,  are  many.     I  will  send  you  a  late  number  of 
the  Star,  from  which  you  can  judge  somewhat  of  my  work. 
Sincerely  yours  in  the  work, 

Dr.  B.  a.  Owens-Adair. 
Portland,  Oregon,  December  26,  1886. 
Mr.  G.  W.  Dimick,  Director  Oregon  Prohibition  Publish- 
ing Society. 
Dear  Sir: 

I  had  an  interview  with  Mr.  H.  S.  Lyman  yesterday,  and 
he,  after  talking  with  Professor  James,  agreed  to  take  the 
editorial  management  of  the  Star  on  January  1,  1887,  and 
continue  during  the  year  of  1887,  in  charge  thereof,  for  four 
hundred  dollars  in  money  and  three  hundred  dollars  in  paid 
up  stock  of  the  paper.  This,  with  Mr.  James'  proposition 
to  run  the  paper  for  one  year  (we,  the  stockholders,  furnish- 
ing an  editor),  believe  to  be  a  good  offer  to  accept. 

Professor  James  is  a  practical  printer,  and  a  reliable  man, 
is  the  Grand  Worthy  Secretary  of  the  I.  O.  G.  T.  of  Ore- 
gon, while  Mr.  Lyman  is  a  well-known  and  able  writer  in 
our  cause.  He  was  a  candidate  at  the  last  June  election  for 
joint  Senator  from  Clatsop  and  Tillamook  counties,  and  is, 
just  now,  filling  the  place  of  his  brother,  Professor  W.  D. 
Lyman,  in  the  Forest  Grove  University.  I  think  that  we 
should  at  once  place  our  paper  in  the  hands  of  these  gentle- 
men, and  so  d'oes  Mr.  Z.  T.  Wright,  and  other  friends  here. 

In  order  to  avoid  delay,  I  would  like  you  to  authorize  me 
in  writing  to  place  them  in  charge,  by  proper  agreement, 
and  I  would  like  you  to  come  down  yourself ;  but,  unless 
you  can  come,  please  send  me,  or  some  other  person  (say 
Z.  T.  Wright),  your  proxy  as  director,  as  I  think  no  time 
should  be  lost  in  accepting  Mr.  James'  offer.  He  desires  to 
take  charge  before  January  1st,  and  I  decidedly  wish  him 
to  do  so.  Now,  as  to  stock  for  Mr.  Lyman.  Mr.  Cheno- 
weth  has  already  offered  to  donate  $100  in  paid  up  stock 
toward  paying  an  editor's  salary,  and  also  to  canvass  per- 


SoMK  f)i'    IIi:k  Liir.  I-"xi'Krienc;es.  407 

sonally  t')  ohl.iiii  finllicr  donations,  hclicvinp  he  could  se- 
cure the  full  ^'MH)  of  stock,  if  Mr.  l>yman  could  be  induced 
to  take  charge  of  the  pajjcr  as  editor.  Mr.  Z.  T.  Wright 
agree-s  to  pay  $50  Iduard  the  cash  part  of  Mr,  Lyman's 
salary.  I'oth  Professors  James  and  Lyman  feel  confiflent 
of  their  ability  to  conduct  the  ])aper  in  sucli  a  way  as  to  make 
our  stock  worth  nearly,  if  not  fpiite,  at  par  at  the  end  of 
18.S7.  Now,  taking  the  present  condition  of  our  paper  into 
consideration,  and  the  outlook  for  placing  it  on  a  jjerma- 
ncnt  and  substantial  basis,  both  Z.  T.  Wright  and  I  have 
felt  justified  in  promising  Messrs.  James  and  Lyman  that 
their  offers  would  be  accepted,  and  they  would  be  placed  in 
charge  of  the  paper  just  as  soon  as  the  formal  action  of  the 
Board  of  Directors  could  be  had  to  properly  and  legally 
complete  the  business.  Please  give  this  matter  your  imme- 
diate consideration,  and  give  me  an  answer.  T  have  written 
to  Messrs.  Roork  and  Young  in  regard  to  this  matter. 
Yours  truly. 

Mrs.  Owexs-Adair. 
P.   S. — Unless   I  am  authorized  to  proceed,   I   shall   feel 
obliged  to  call  a  meeting  of  our  board  at  an  early  date,  in 
Portland. 

LETTER    FROM    SEYMOUR    CONDON. 

Salem.  Oregon.  January  31,  1889. 
Mrs.  Owens-Adair,  i\L  D.,  Portland,  Oregon. 

Dear  Madam — In  reply  to  your  letter,  please  find  enclosed 
H.  B.  changing  the  age  of  consent,  introduced  by  me. 

How  the  bill  will  be  received,  remains  a  matter  of  con- 
jecture.    An  amendment  will  probably  be  offered,  making 
proof  of  previous  chaste  character  necessary,  when  the  fe- 
male is  over  14  and  under  16  years. 
Yours  truly, 

Seymour  \\\  Condon. 


4G8  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

COPY  OF  LETTERS  ADDRESSED  BY  DR.  ADAIR  TO  MEMBERS  OF  THE 
OREGON   LEGISLATURE  CONCERNING  BILL  FOR  TEM- 
PERANCE INSTRUCTION   IN   THE  PUBLIC 
SCHOOLS  OF  OREGON.       (1889). 

Honorable  , 

Dear  Sir — Through  your  letter,  received  today,  I  am 
pleased  to  learn  that  we  can  count  you  among  our  positive 
friends. 

It  is  the  intention  of  Mrs.  Hoxter  and  myself  to  visit 
Salem  at  an  early  date,  perhaps  on  next  Saturday,  if  my 
professional  engagements  will  permit. 

One  principal  object  of  my  visit  wall  be  to  get  a  promise 
of  a  hearing  before  the  Legislature  at  an  early  date,  and 
any  assistance  you  can  give  us  in  obtaining  this  hearing, 
say  before  a  joint  session  for  one  hour,  will  be  gratefully 
remembered. 

Yours  faithfully, 

Mrs.  B.  a.  Owens-Adair,  M.  D. 

ADDRESS    TO   THE    LEGISLATURE    OF    OREGON    ON    "tHE    AGE   OF 
CONSENT.''       (1889). 

Gentlemen — In  the  interests  of  humanity,  it  is  right  that 
a  girl  should  be  protected  in  her  childhood  from  the  possible 
loss  of  that  which  is  of  priceless  value  to  her,  and  yet  that 
which  she  has  not  yet  sufficient  knowledge  or  discretion  to 
estimate  at  its  true  worth. 

A  girl  child  is  liable  to,  and  often  does  meet  unprincipled 
and  lecherous  men,  who  look  upon  and  lust  after  her  very 
youth.  We  need  not  quote  any  special  authority  to  support 
this  declaration,  for  since  the  horrible  disclosures  and  ex- 
posures recently  made  by  the  "Pall  Mall  Gazette,"  as  to  the 
wholesale  debauchery  of  little  girls  carried  on  in  London, 
England,  it  has  come  to  be  generally  known  and  believed 
by  the  reading  public,  that  the  horrifying  crime  of  debauch- 
ing little  girls,  and  enticing  them  to  lives  of  shame,  is  car- 


SojMI',  ()!■    IIi.K  Lii-i';   IC.\im:i<ii:.\(i;s.  4G9 

ricd  on  to  an  alainiin^-  cxlcnt  in  onr  own  country,  as  well 
as  in  F.ns^land. 

Now  vvc  Isnow  lliaL  men  ma)'  sin  carnall)'  many  times, 
and  still  he  received  into  society,  and  pass  as  one  of  way- 
ward nature,  "just  a  little  too  wild,  you  know,  but  then  it 
is  better  that  he  sow  his  wild  oats  early." 

Such  expressions  arc  made,  not  only  as  excuses,  but  as 
justifying'  immorality  among  men,  any  one  of  which  would 
consign  a  poor  girl  to  a  life  of  ostracism  from  all  that  are, 
or  pass  for,  good  and  pure.  Women  are  most  frequently 
accused  of  being  violent  and  partisan  in  condemning  one  of 
their  own  unforttmate  sex.  This  was  more  generally  true 
twenty  years  ago  in  America,  than  it  is  today;  for,  without 
doubt  much  has  been  done  in  recent  years  by  our  women 
to  make  the  downfall  of  girls  and  women  more  difficult,  as 
well  as  to  provide  such  means  as  are  possible  for  the  rescue 
of  the  fallen.  We  maintain  that  the  protection,  by  law,  of 
girls,  is  a  powerful  preventative  against  women  becoming 
outcasts  for  life.  In  proof  of  this,  I  will  offer  the  following 
dispatch,  clipped  from  a  late  issue  of  the  Daily  Astorian : 
"London,  February  5,  1S89.  The  name  of  Sir  Charles  Dilke 
was  presented  to  the  rate-payers  as  a  candidate  for  city 
counsellor.  A  protest  signed  by  fifteen  hundred  women  of 
the  Social  Purity  League,  was  also  presented,  and  his  name 
was  dropped." 

This  shows  that  the  women  of  England  are  alive  to  the 
wrongs  of  their  sex,  as  well  as  the  women  of  America.  And, 
gentlemen,  when  I  tell  }ou  that  the  social  purity  question  is 
one  of  the  special  departments  in  our  great  organization 
known  as  the  Woman's  Christian  Temperance  L'nion,  which 
today  numbers  over  300,000  earnest  and  determined  Chris- 
tian women,  I  but  tell  you  that  which  perhaps  you  already 
know.  I  come  to  you  today  as  a  representative  of  the  W. 
C.  T.  v.  of  Oregon,  in  behalf  of  our  girls. 

It  seems  to  me  that  it  only  needs  to  have  the  request  made 


470  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

to  our  Legislature  to  pass  the  bill  introduced  by  I\Ir.  Con- 
don, raising  the  "age  of  consent"  to  16  years,  in  order  to  in- 
sure its  passage  by  a  unanimous  vote.  The  objectors  to 
such  a  law  are  not  to  represent  the  people  of  Oregon,  as 
lawmakers,  and,  therefore,  I  do  not  feel  like  occupying  more 
of  your  time  than  to  represent  that  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  of  our 
state  earnestly  and  emphatically  urges  you  to  pass  the  bill 
referred  to  above.  And  now  I  wish  to  say  further,  gentle- 
men, that  the  thinking  and  praying  women  of  this  nation 
are  coming  to  the  front,  with  outstretched  arms  to  shield 
and  protect  the  girlhood  of  this  nation.  I  assure  you  that 
we  will  never  let  go  of  this  work  until  we  have  induced  the 
lawmakers  of  this  nation  to  enact  laws  that  will  protect 
our  young  and  innocent  girls.  And  while  we  are  working 
for  our  girls,  remember  we  are  greatly  interested  in  the 
welfare  of  our  boys,  and  in  having  laws  enacted  for  their 
protection  and  benefit. 


So.Mi-;  oi-  lli.K  1,11  i-.  l'"Ni-i';i<n":NCES. 


CHAITICR  XXXV. 

AUDKliSS  i!El'(JKi':    Till':    WOAfAX's   C()N(;KKSS   A'I"    PORTLAND,   ORE- 
GON,  JUNE   l.S,   1890. 

The  following"  paper  was  prepared  for  and  read  before 
the  Woman's  ConjT^ress  in  Portland,  Oregon,  June  IS,  18J)(j, 
and  by  request,  was  read  before  the  Pioneer  Association  the 
same  year :  . 

Ladies  of  the  Woman   SuPfrai^e  yVssociation   and  Cong'ress 
of  Oregon : 

It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  meet  you  here  today  in  this 
splendid  city  of  our  great  Northwest.  I  see  many^  faces 
that  have  been  familiar  to  me  nearly  all  m\'  life ;  and  know- 
ing how  faithfully,  how  honestly,  and  how  persistently  you 
have  all  worked  in  our  great  cause,  I  feel  that  this  is  the  time 
for  mutual  and  hearty  congratulations  upon  the  wonderful 
success  which  has  crowned  the  efforts  of  the  woman's  cause 
in  America. 

And  now,  Madame  President,  I  wish  to  sa}-  that  my  few 
brief  and  somewhat  disjointed  remarks  are  brought  out  by 
your  letter,  which  reads  as  follows :  "Your  paper  must  be 
upon  some  phase  of  woman's  work  or  ambitions."  My  mifld 
took  in  the  circuit  of  our  great  universe  at  one  glance ;  then 
I  asked'  myself :  Is  there  any  difference  between  woman's 
work  and  men's  work?  Is  there  anything  under  the  sun 
that  muscle  or  mind  can  do  that  the  new  woman  cannot  ac- 
complish? We  have  no  fear  that  the  "new  woman"  will 
not  find  a  place  in  the  poet's  theme,  as  well  as  in  his  heart. 
She  will  not  cease  to  be  the  "ministering  angel,"  the  very 
inspiration  of  life.  Like  the  fine  gold  that  comes  from  the 
furnace,  she  will  come  forth,  clothed  in  all  the  beauty  and 
strength   of   a   pure    womanhood,    for    she    will    have   been 


472  Dr.  Owens- Ada jk. 

cleansed  of  the  dross  of  dependence,  helplessness  and  preju- 
dice of  past  ages.  Indeed,  up  to  the  present  time,  what  has 
man  done  that  woman  could  not  do,  or  has  not  done? 

Her  muscles  and  mind  are  just  as  susceptible  of  being 
strengthened  and  cultivated  as  are  those  of  man.  We  have 
but  to  reflect,  to  realize  that  this  is  undoubtedly  true.  I  be- 
lieve the  champion  marksman  of  the  world  is  a  young  lady. 
The  newspapers  of  recent  date  tell  us  that  the  champion 
swimmer  and  diver  is  a  young  woman.  She  jumps  from  a 
swinging  trapeze  seventy  feet,  down,  down,  into  the  water 
below.  The  papers  also  tell  us  that  the  champion  lifter  is 
a  woman  thirty-one  years  of  age,  and  but  five  feet  four 
inches  in  height.     She  weighs  197  pounds. 

Yet  even  now  we  hear  that  old  familiar  cjuestion,  "Can  a 
woman  fight?" 

For  an  answer,  you  have  but  to  turn  your  eyes  toward 
Cuba,  and  read  the  startling  accounts  of  the  courage  and 
daring  exhibited  on  the  battlefield  by  1,500  brave  women, 
who  enlisted  as  soldiers  to  defend  their  homes  and  country. 

If  you  go  to  the  circus  you  will  see  feats  of  strength  and 
daring  performed  by  women,  equal  in  all  respects  to  those 
performed  by  men.  I  once  saw  a  woman  play  with  a.  can- 
non ball,  tossing  it  up  and  catching  it  in  her  hands,  and 
upon  her  bare  shoulders,  as  a  child  would  play  with  his  toy 
ball.  It  required  the  united  strength  of  two  strong  men  to 
lift  that  cannon  ball. 

Yet  she  was  not  a  giantess,  but  a  strong,  muscular  woman, 
well  developed  during  years  of  systematic  training. 

This  brings  to  my  mind  a  very  remarkable  young  woman, 
a  Miss  Ann  Hobson,  a  sister  of  the  late  John  Hobson,  and 
aunt  of  Senator  Fulton's  wife,  a  pioneer  of  '43.  She  de- 
serves a  chapter  and  life-size  portrait  in  our  pioneer  history. 
She  could  row  or  sail  a  boat  equal  to  a  Columbia  river  fisher- 
man. She  could  manage  a  canoe  with  all  the  skill  of  a  Chi- 
nook Indian.     She  could   ride  a  horse  and   swing-  a  lasso 


SoMi'.  OF   IIi:k   Li  it:  ExPERiiiNCES.  473 

c(|iial  Id  llic  most  expert  cowboy.  In  those  days  we  li.'ul  (;nly 
Si)anisli  cittle.  and  to  subdue  them  rec|uired  j.,M-eat  couraj^'c, 
skill  and  tact.  They  were  i)Ossesscd  of  frij^htfully  long, 
sharp  horns — dchornitij.,''  was  never  heard  of  in  those  days. 
Miss  Hobson  was  fully  equal  to  the  task.  I  have  seen  her 
often,  ridint^:  at  full  speed,  swintjinpf  the  lasso  around  her 
head,  in  hot  ])ui-suit  of  a  wild  cow,  that  would  not  be  driven 
into  the  corral.  When  near  enoui^h,  she  threw  the  lasso, 
and  the  cow's  head  was  certain  to  be  caught  in  the  loop.  If, 
by  any  chance,  the  lariat  escaped  from  her  ^^rasp,  she  would 
continue  the  chase  till  it  was  within  reach,  when  she  would 
catch  it  from  the  g'round  (from  the  horse)  and  the  next  mo- 
ment it  was  wound  round  the  high  j^ommcl  of  her  saddle, 
and  the  cow  was  brought  to  a  standstill.  And  she  could 
catch  a  cow's  foot  with  the  lasso,  with  as  much  ease  and 
grace  as  she  could  her  head.  There  was  not  then  in  Clatsop 
county  a  man  who  could  equal  Miss  Hibson  in  riding  and 
lassoing.  I,  a  little  girl  in  those  days,  was  ]\Iiss  Hobson's 
especial  pet,  perhaps  because  I  admired  and  loved  her  .so 
much.  Many  a  time  did  she  pick  me  up  from  the  ground, 
and  placing  me  behind,  or  in  front  of  her.  put  spurs  to  her 
horse,  and  away  we  would  go,  like  mad,  across  the  prairie. 
Her  examples  of  courage  and  daring  have  been  a  blessing 
to  me  all  through  my  life,  and  I  gladly  pay  this  tribute  to 
her  strong,  vigorous  and  fearless  girlhood.  We  have  many 
examples  of  courage,  endurance  and  marked  ability  among 
the  early  pioneer  women. 

]\Iany  of  these  have  gone  on  to  the  better  land,  but  some  re- 
main to  tell  the  story  of  good  accomplished,  and  to  furnish 
grand  examples  for  the  bright,  young  generation  that  must 
take  up  their  work,  and  carry  it  worthily  forward.  There 
is  your  president.  I  knew  her  before  she  made  her  first 
sui¥rage  speech.  I  assisted  her  in  starting  the  first  suffrage 
paper  in  Oregon,  and  was  a  constant  subscriber  throughout 
its   natural   life.      I   was   converted  to   woman   suffrage  bv 


474  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

carefully  reading'  "The  Revolution,"  the  pioneer  equal  suf- 
frage paper,  edited  and  published  by  our  honored,  and  best 
beloved  mother,  JMiss  Susan  B.  Anthony,  who  now  sits  on 
this  platform.  I  owe  much  of  the  success  of  my  life  to  the 
brove  words  and  deeds  of  this  foster  mother,  and  I  take 
great  pleasure  now  in  doing  her  homage.  Away  back  in 
those  days  when  I  was  struggling,  not  only  for  an  education, 
but  for  bread  for  myself  and  child,  it  was  not  pleasant,  nor 
was  it  profitable  to  be  called  a  "blue-stocking."  It  required 
more  than  common  courage,  as  all  pioneer  suffragists  can 
testify,  to  withstand  the  opposition,  and  endure  the  sarcastic 
smiles  and  distrust  of  the  better  classes,  and  the  sneers  and 
jeers,  and  even  "rotten  eggs"  of  the  rabble.  This  was  about 
the  time  an  "honorable"  Senator  distinguished  himself  in 
the  halls  of  Congress,  while  opposing  an  equal  suffrage  bill, 
by  giving  utterance  to  that  most  remarkable  speech  : 

■'We  don't  want  our  wives  and  daughters  to  be  mathe- 
maticians, philosophers,  or  scientists.  We  don't  love  and 
honor  them  for  what  they  know  of  such  things,  but  rather 
for  what  they  don't  know.  These  things  are  not  necessary 
for  women.  They  are  better  ofT  without  such  knowledge. 
Woman's  place  is  the  home,  and  it  is  her  duty  to  love  and 
care  for  her  husband,  and  his  children." 

This  is  on  a  par  with  what  a  fashionable  lady,  anxious 
to  bring  me  back  into  the  fold  of  respectability,  once  said 
to  me :  "What  do  you  want  to  believe  in  that  horrid 
woman's  rights  business  for?  I  can't  bear  to  see  you 
mixed  up  in  it."  "Why,  what  is  there  wrong  in  it?"  I 
queried.  She  answered :  "I  don't  know  anything  about 
it,  and  I  don't  want  to  know  anything  about  it,  but  I  am 
opposed  to  it  on  general  principles." 

When  I  began  the  stud}'  of  medicine,  twenty-five  years 
ago,  I  concealed  it  from  my  relatives  and  friends,  fearing 
I  might  not  have  the  courage  to  withstand  the  storm  that 
would    (and    did)    come,   when   I   had   matured   my   plans, 


So.Mi'.  (ii-   IIi:k'   I.iI'I':   l'",\i'i:Kii;.\(  i.s.  175 

and  was  ready  (m  leave  Imnie  for  a  medical  collcf^c.  Only 
two  ])ersons,  of  all  my  friends,  ever  j^ave  me  a  word  of 
encourat^cment.  (  )ne  of  these  was  my  liij^hly  honored 
friend,  the  late  riovernor  S.  F.  Chadwick ;  the  other  the 
Hon.  Jesse  y\|)i)lei;ate,  who  was  ever  a  Inie  friend  and 
father  to  me. 

He  pi'ave  me  many  valued  words  of  encourat,''ement,  and 
much  fatherly  advice,  especially  admonishinj:^  nie  not  to 
say  one  word  on  e(|ual  suffraj^e  duriniq'  my  medical  course. 
Had  I  strictly  followed  his  advice  I  might  have  -saved 
myself  many  tears  and  heartaches.  On  the  day  T  left  home 
two  friends  called  to  say  good-bye.  One  of  them  said: 
"Well,  I  hardly  know  what  to  say  to  you,  ff)r  I  am  thor- 
oughly disgusted.  T  always  gave  you  credit  for  having 
good  sense.  I  rcall}'  think  you  must  have  lost  your  head, 
to  leave  a  good  business  and  run  off  on  such  a  wild  goose 
chase." 

T  laughingly  said:  "Never  mind;  I  will  come  home, 
after  a  few  years,  and  be  your  doctor."  Her  reply  came 
quickly:  "No,  indeed  I  You  can  make  hats  and  bonnets 
all  right,  but  you  can  never  be  a  doctor.  No  woman  doctor 
can  ever  doctor  me!" 

That  good  woman  lived  to  change  her  mind,  and  laugh 
heartil}'  at  her  former  narrow-mindedness.  Twenty-five 
years  ago,  when  I  was  living  in  the  beautiful  little  town 
of  Roseburg,  I  was  somewhat  startled  one  bright  morning 
to  receive  a  characteristic  telegram,  which  read  as  follows : 

"Secure  me  a  place  to  speak  Saturday  evening. 

(Signed)  "SUSAN  B.   ANTHONY." 

Now  what  was  to  be  done?  There  was  the  Court 
House,  not  a  desirable  place ;  a  commodious  hall  under  a 
saloon,  and  one  nice  large  church.  I  decided  to  try  and 
secure  the  church,  so  I  made  baste  to  call  upon  the  min- 
ister. I  said  to  him:  "1  have  a  telegram  from  Miss 
Anthony,  who  is  to  speak  here  tomorrow  evening.     I  think 


47G  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

?he  ouglit  to  have  a  cliurch  to  speak  in,  don't  you?"  I 
looked  him  full  in  the  face,  and  saw  him  \Yince,  but  he 
assented.  I  then  said:  "Your  church  is  the  largest  and 
best.  Cannot  we  have  your  church?"  After  he  had  con- 
sented, I  called  on  the  trustees,  and  succeeded  in  getting 
the  key.  I  then  repaired  to  the  printing  office,  ordered  sev- 
eral hundred  posters  printed,  and  secured  a  boy  to  post 
them  in  all  the  public  places.  The  news  spread  in  great 
haste,  and  the  little  town  was  stirred  as  though  the  coming 
of  a  circus  had  been  announced.  Men  stood  on  the  street 
corners,  discussing  the  situation.  Women  stopped  to  read 
the  posters,  and  make  sure  that  the  lecture  was  really  to  be 
in  the  church.  That  was  the  surprising  point,  which  threw 
about  it  a  halo  of  respectability.  Late  in  the  evening  the 
proprietor  of  one  of  Roseburg's  largest  saloons  called  at  my 
store,  and  jokingly  said:  "Well,  you  have  played  your 
cards  very  nicely;  but  we  will  checkmate  you,  for  we  are 
getting  up  a  free  supper  and  a  free  dance  at  the  hotel,  and 
I'll  bet  you  don't  have  a  baker's  dozen  at  the  church." 

That  was  sad  news  to  me,  for  I  knew  if  there  was  any- 
thing that  would  draw  in  that  town  it  was  a  free  dance. 
Saloon-keepers,  in  those  days,  were  most  respectable  cit- 
izens, and  their  wives  and  daughters  were  much  sought 
after  as  desirable  members  of  church  societies  and  ladies' 
guilds.  It  was  customary  then  for  candidates  to  leave 
money  with  proprietors  of  saloons  for  electioneering  pur- 
poses, for  the  distribution  of  free  drinks.  Election  days 
were  days  of  drunkenness  and  riot,  and  it  was  hardly  con- 
sidered respectable  or  safe  for  a  lady  to  be  seen  on  the 
street  on  election  day.  On  such  days  you  could  locate  every 
saloon  by  the  surging  masses  of  half-drunken  men  around 
its  doors,  should  you  cast  your  eye  up  and  down  the  street. 
Indeed,  there  were  few  men  who  could  withstand  the 
pressure  on  election  day  with  breath  uncontaminated  by 
at  least  one  drink.     1  will  brieflv  relate  What  I  saw  on  one 


So.vii'.  <W'-   IIi:k   Lii'i-.   I''.\ imskiknces.  •4-77 

clrclinii  (l.iy,  iiiMic  ili;iii  iwcntN-fivc  years  aj:^o.  That 
was  before  llu'  nuinnr.ihlc  crusade  wliicli  j^ave  birth  tc^ 
the  W.  C.  T.  I'.,  to  w'liirli  every  natidii  lorlay  pays  respect. 
My  little  store  stood  nn  the  principal  .direct.  Three  doors 
above  me  stood  ri  large  saloon.  /\.  few  doors  above,  on 
the  oi)posite  side,  was  another.  These  were  the  largest 
saloons  in  town,  and  were  the  rendezvcnis  of  gentlemen  in 
those  days.  About  three  blorks  away  stood  the  court  house, 
the  {"jrincipal  ])olling-place,  in  full  view  of  my  house,  owing 
to  a  vacant  lot  in  front.  I  invited  in  several  of  my  lady 
friends,  among  whom  was  the  wife  of  my  nearest  saloon 
neighbor.  She  was  in  favor  of  progress,  and  afterward  at- 
tended Miss  Anthony's  lecture,  while  her  husband  assisted 
in  the  opposition  dance.  We  locked  the  door,  and  removed 
everything  from  the  show  window.  This  enabled  us.  from 
behind  the  lace  curtains,  to  see  air  that  went  on  at  the  polls, 
and  in  the  street,  without  ourselves  being  seen.  Long  before 
13  o'clock  there  were  plenty  of  drunken  men.  Then,  as 
the  common  .expression  went,  "the  circus  began."  Some 
of  the  men  laughed ;  some  sang ;  others  quarreled,  and  some 
swore,  with  much  loud,  and  some  confidential  talking.  Thus 
they  kept  up  a  continuous  stream,  by  twos  and  threes  and 
fours,  going  to  and  from  the  polls  and  saloons.  Several 
times  we  saw  men  start  with  a  drunken  fellow,  who  stopped 
half  way,  declaring  he  would  go  'iio  farther  to  the  polls 
without  another  drink.  We  saw  men  going  to  and  from 
the  polls  with  bottles  of  whisky  in  their  hands  and  pockets, 
and  saw  them  drink  from  bottles  on  their  way.  We  also  saw 
two  men  of  prominence,  one  a  judge  and  the  other  a  lawyer, 
take,  by  actual  count,  eight  men  to  the  polls,  some  of  them 
so  beastly  intoxicated  that  it  took  their  united  efforts  to 
get  them  to  and  from  the  voting  place,  and  before  the  voting 
closed  these  gentlemen  were  in  about  as  helpless  a  condition 
themselves,  ^^'ithout  looking  backward  we  can  hardl}- 
realize  the  changes  for  the  better  that  have  taken  place  in 


478  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

the  last  quarter  of  a  ccntur_\-.  The  young  people  now  grow- 
ing up  can  scarcely  believe  such  a  state  of  society  could 
have  once  existed.  But  such  were  the  conditions  in  the 
little  town  of  Roseburg,  so  beautifully  situated  on  the  banks 
of  the  Umpqua  river.  Near  by  also  flowed  picturesque  Deer 
creek,  known  in  former  days  as  "the  hunter's  paradise," 
where  roamed  great  herds  of  deer,  who  drank  of  its  crystal, 
cool  waters,  or  grazed  on  the  flower-bedecked  hills,  and 
basked  in  the  shade  of  the  giant  oaks  which  abounded  in 
that  locality.  Yes,  that  Avas  the  state  of  society  in  that  little 
village  of  500  souls,  and  sixteen  saloons ! 

A^'hen  IMiss  Anthony,  then  in  the  prime  of  her  woman- 
hood, alighted  from  the  south-bound  stage,  in- front  of  the 
McClellen  hotel.  I  was  there  to  greet  her ;  and  so,  also,  was  a 
large  and  curious  crowd,  anxious  to  get  a  sight  of  her.  In 
the  evening,  when,  on  our  way  to  church,  Ave  passed  the 
hotel,  Ave  heard  the  violins  sending  out  strains  of  music,  to 
Avhich  many  merry  feet  were  keeping  time.  This  Avas  truly 
an  anti-Anthony  dance.  We  found  the  church  Avell  filled, 
and  the  lecture  Avas  all  it  should  have  been.  L  Avas  gratified 
beyond  all  expression  Avith  out  success.  It  gave  me  new 
courage  and  determination  to  adhere  to  my  convictions.  We 
had  then  only  fifty-five  miles  of  railroad  in  Oregon.  Nor. 
were  any  of  the  great  transcontinental  railroads  in  existence 
at  that  time.  The  old-time  stagecoach  traveled  from  Salem 
by  way  of  the  beautiful  Willamette  valley,  and  across  the 
noAV  famous  "Shasta  route"  to  Sacramento.  Woman,  in 
all  these  advanced  movements,  has  forged  ahead,  and  taken 
her  rightful  place  beside  man.  To  Avhat  place  of  honorable 
business  can  you  go  today  and  not  find  pure  Avomen  using 
their  hands  and  brains  in  the  uplifting  of  the  human  race? 
Ever}^  business  of  importance  must  have  a  woman  book- 
keeper and  typewriter  and  the  stores  fairly  SAvarm  Avith 
woman  clerks.  Woman  has  proved  her  ability  to  use  the 
ballot,  and  to  perform  any  official  duties  Avith  as  much  dis- 
cretion and  Avisdom  as  does  man,  and  the  time  is  not  far 
distant  Avhen  the  ballot  will  be  aAvarded  her  in  every  state 
in  the  Union. 


Some  of  ITi-.k  J.w-e  Exi'kriences.  -i'l') 


CHAI'TPVK  XXXVI. 

ROYAL     RIAUIC:       I'M:I!IA,\'      I'OAL — WHAT     III'.KIIDI  lA-     IKJICS     FOR 
HORSES  AND   MEN, 

North  Yakima,  Wash.,  April  1,  190,3. 

To  the  luHtor :  ]  have  just  read  B.  S.  Botsford's  com- 
ments on  Mrs.  Duniway's  eonmnniicalion  in  Sunday's  Ore- 
i;()nian.  1  reg^ret  I  did  not  see  the  sketch  referred  to,  and 
I  also  regret  tliat  I  am  unable  to  determine  whether  Bots- 
ford  is  a  man  or  a  woman.  I  believe  with  Botsforrl  in  ])re- 
cept  and  example,  and  I  also  believe  in  strict  discipline,  from 
infancy  to  maturity,  but  I  do  not  believe  that  parents  should 
be  held  responsible  in  all  cases  for  their  children's  misdeeds. 

I  am  a  true  believer  in  heredity  and  hereditary  influences. 
I  received  an  object  lesson  in  my  early  life  which  thoroughly 
convinced  me  of  this  great  power  Avhich  may  work  for  good 
or  evil.  My  father  was  a  Kentuckian,  and,  like  most  Ken- 
tuckians,  he  was  a  great  lover  and  a  good  judge  of  fine 
horses,  and  from  the  early  fifties  to  his  death  he  always  kept 
a  fine  stallion — the  best  the  state  afforded. 

When  I  was  about  nme  years  old  my  father  bought  me  a 
pretty  little  spotted  cayuse  pony.  Unlike  most  of  her  breed, 
she  was  gentle,  faithful  and  trusty.  I  loved  my  little  Dolly. 
In  time  she  was  bred  to  Royal  Prince,  and  she  brought  me 
a  beautiful  bay,  who  was  the  picture  of  her  sire,  and  I  named 
her  Princess.  In  time  Princess  was  bred  to  another  of  royal 
blood,  and  she  excelled  herself  in  a  beautiful  dappled  bay, 
with  soft  brown  eyes.  I  began  riding  her  before  she  was 
six  months  old.  She  w-as  so  gentle  and  affectionate,  so  beau- 
tiful, tall  and  graceful  that  I  called  her  Queen,  ^^'hen  she 
matured  my  father  owned  a  celebrated  horse,  known  far  and 
near  in  Oregon.     He  was  a  beautiful  sorrel.    His  coat  shone 


■480  Dr.  Owexs- Adair. 

like  satin,  and  he  was  kind,  intelligent  and  obedient.  My 
father  said :  "Now  you  shall  have  a  thoroughbred,  for  Queen 
is  perfect."     A'ly  hopes  were  high  in  anticipation. 

One  bright  morning  father  came  in,  convulsed  with 
laughter,  saying :  "Queen  has  a  colt.  You  had  better  go 
out  and  see  it."  I  rushed  to  the  barn-yard,  and  there  stood 
my  beautiful  Queen,  with  her  broad,  intelligent  brow  and 
soft  brown  eyes,  and  around  her  was  playing  a  little  ugly, 
spotted,  blaze-faced  cayuse  colt.  I  was  amazed.  Lady  Queen 
came  up  and  rubbed  her  nose  against  my  cheek,  and  I  almost 
fancied  I  could  hear  her  say :  "I  could  not  help  it.  Don't 
blame  me." 

She  afterward  had  other  colts,  and  they  were  beautiful. 
This  was  the  only  cayuse ;  and  he  was  a  typical  cayuse.  His 
mean,  treacherous  nature  dated  back  beyond  his  great-grand- 
mother, for  she  was  true  and  good.  No  amount  of  training 
could  ever  make  him  anything  but  a  cayuse,  and  a  very  mean 
one  at  that. 

We  have  but  to  use  our  eyes  to  see  this  object  lesson 
verified  all  about  us,  both  in  the  human  and  animal  kingdom. 
How  often  we  see  this  illustrated  in  the  same  family,  some 
of  which  will  be  good,  honest  and  faithful,  while  the  others 
will  be  dishonest  and  vicious.  They  have  all  received  the 
same  mental,  moral  and  physical  training,  yet  are  unlike  in 
principle  and  practice.  How  can  we  account  for  these  dif- 
ferences, except  through  the  law  of  heredity?  Yes,  "blood 
wall  tell,"  but  it  is  like  a  double-edged  sword ;  it  may  cut 
one  way  or  the  other,  and  sometimes  it  cuts  both  ways  in 
the  same  family. 

We  often  find  dififerent  complexions,  dispositions  and 
traits  of  character  in  the  same  family  springing  from  the 
same  parents. 

And  this -holds  good  in  the  lower  animal  kingdom  as  well. 
This  is  a  great  subject,  and  one  little  understood.  Probably 
not  much  better  now  than  it  was  1,000  years  ago,  when  at- 


SoMi;  ()!■■  lli.K  Liir,  IC.\i'i;Kii':Nciis.  IHl 

tcni|)ls  vviTc  made  li>  lircvonl.  the  jjropagati'Jii  oi  diseases 
and  dcforniilifs. 

The  writer  of  the  lellcr  I  referred  to  sccnis  to  think  that 
if  the  Ijallots  were  i)laee(l  in  I  he  hands  of  women  they  wonld 
proceed  to  destroy  this  nation.  Observe  his  or  her  propliecy. 
"God  shield  ns  from  tlie  evil  days  that  will  come  npon  this 
nation  when  women  are  j^'iven  the  l)allot,  for  no  chain  is 
strong^er  than  the  weakest  link.  So  no  nation  can  be  stronger 
than  its'  weakest  people,  who  are  Indians,  Chinamen,  idiots, 
and  women." 

Now  I  find  myself  repeating  to  myself  over  and  over : 
"Can  this  be  a  woman  who  is  publicly  declaring  herself  one 
of  the  weaklings,  and  that,  too,  when  she  has  been  reading 
us  a  lecture  on  reaping  and  sowing  and  the  training  of  the 
young.  I  am  wondering,  too,  if  this  writer  is  aware  of  the 
fact  that  there  are  several  states  in  this  Union  where  womeji 
have  enjoyed  equal  sufifrage  wath  men,  "lo,  these  many 
years."  Now,  I  object  to  being  classed  with  Indians,  China- 
men, and  idiots !  I  have  been  voting  for  these  twenty-five 
years  at  school  meetings,  and  I  hope  to  live  to  see  the  day 
that  I  can  vote  for  the  President  of  our  United  States. 

I  do  not  believe  there  are  as  many  bad  women  as  there 
are  bad  men.  Just  visit  the  penitentiaries  and  jails,  and 
compare  notes.  A  few  weeks  ago  we  had  a  school  election 
in  this  city.  A  good,  worthy  man  was  elected  for  director 
by  a  large  majority.  The  mothers  of  families  and  school 
teachers  were  out  in  force.  They  wanted  a  good  director, 
and  they  elected  him.  The}-  were  not  interested  in  the 
political  deal. 

Consistency,  consistency,  thou  art  indeed  a  jewel  of  great 
price !  Would  that  we  all  might  possess  you. 

THE   "RACE  suicide"   OUESTIOX. 

Since  President  Roosevelt's  speech  on  "race  suicide"  there 
has  been  much  discussion  of  the  question  by  the  press  and 
public.     ]\Irs.  Owens-Adair  of  this  city  contributed  an  in- 


482  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

teresting  article  on  the  subject  in  the  Portland  Oregonian 
of  May  3,  which  the  Herald  reproduces : 

"I  have  been  watching  the  discussion  of  the  race  problem 
with  great  interest,  and  I  was  highly  pleased  this  morning 
with  grandmother's  discussion  of  'the  family  question.' 

"This  is  a  many-sided  subject,  and  as  a  physician  I  have 
had  the  opportunity  of  viewing  it  from  various  standpoints. 
As  grandmother  says,  the  question  is  no  longer  'sacred,'  but 
through  newspaper  discussion  has  become  very  common. 
President  Roosevelt  is  a  great  man,  and  we  all  rejoice  that 
the  White  House  is  the  home  of  five  happy  children — not  a 
large  family,  as  compared  with  Oregon  and  Washington 
pioneer  families.  Many  pioneer  mothers  have  given  thrice 
that  number  to  their  state.  But,  judging  from  the  'signs  of 
the  times,'  such  mothers  will  soon  become  obsolete,  and  re- 
membered only  in  history. 

"As  President  Roosevelt  said  of  his  convalescing  son,  'He 
is  coming  out  of  the  woods  with  leaps  and  bounds,'  so  it  is 
with  out  nation;  we  are  going  ahead  'with  leaps  and  bounds.' 
We  have  no  time  for  old-fashioned  ways,  or  old-fashioned 
living.  They  are  cast  behind  us,  like  worn-out  garments. 
Nothing  but  high  pressure  and  rapid  transit  will  satisfy  us. 
Education  is  our  nation's  watchword.  Our  daily  papers 
are  volumes  within  themselves.  We  read  them  principally 
through  their  headlines,  editorials  and  telegraphic  dispatches. 
There  is  no  place  set  aside  nowadays  in  which  to  file  away 
our,  papers.  We  are  deluged  with  periodicals  filled  with 
good  reading,  which  we  would  like  to  read  if  we  only  had 
time.  Sixty  years  ago  we  were  glad  to  get  one  mail  in  twelve 
months.  We  were  delighted  when  we  received  two  mails  a 
year.  Now  we  are  not  satisfied  with  two  free  deliveries  a 
day. 

"No  one  thinks  of  doing  business  without  a  telephone.  The 
doctor  calls  the  family  or  nurse  up,  inquires  about  his  patient ; 
then  calls  the  druggist,  dictates  a  prescription  and  orders  the 


Some  of  J1i;u  \aik  JCnim:kiences.  483 

medicine  sent.  And  so  with  other  l)usiness.  The  housewife, 
the  neis'hhors,  all  give  orders  and  gossip  over  the  'phone. 
Even  the  little  tots  know  how  to  climh  up  to  the  'phone,  ring 
up  central  and  make  their  little  wants  known. 

"Is  there  any  wonder  that,  when  we  are  living  so  fast, 
and  rushing  ahead  with  such  speed,  that  the  wife  finds  neither 
time  nor  desire  for  maternity?  Child-bearing  is  hard,  and 
the  rearing  of  children  requires  constant  care ;  and  as  society 
is  today,  our  girls  are  not  reared  and  drilled,  as  their  grand- 
mothers were,  in  the  care  of  children  and  the  home.  From 
the  ages  of  seven  to  twenty  they  are  kept  in  school.  From 
the  high  school  they  go  to  the  university.  Then  they  are 
ushered  into  matrimony  and  are  expected  to  rear  a  large 
family.  When  such  a  mother,  without  wealth  at  her  disposal, 
attempts  to  bring  a  child  into  the  world  every  two,  or  even 
three,  years,  as  a  rule  she  breaks  down,  and  becomes  a 
physical  wreck.  It  matters  not  how  much  sentiment  or 
glamour  is  thrown  about  motherhood,  all  the  stern  reality 
falls  to  her  lot,  and  society  has  augmented  her  sufferings 
and  responsibilities  ten-fold.  No  children  nowadays  'grow' 
up,  like  Topsy.  No  more  girls  marry,  with  parents'  consent, 
at  the  age  of  fourteen,  to  begin  raising  a  large  family.  No 
more  boys  and  girls  at  the  ages  of  fourteen  and  fifteen  can 
be  found  on  the  farm,  or  in  the  home,  doing  men's  and 
women's  work.  Certainly  not  in  Oregon,  where  we  have  a 
humane  law  to  protect  children  under  sixteen  from  doing 
work  after  stated  hours. 

"Sixty  or  seventy,  or  even  thirt}-  years  ago  th-e  labor  ques- 
tion was  not  under  discussion.  ■  Girls  could  be  obtained  at 
from  one  to  two  dollars  a  Aveek.  They  could  wash,  iron, 
clean,  cook,  take  care  of  the  children  and  the  house.  A  week 
meant  seven  full  days.  But  those  days  are  gone.  The  new 
girl,  as  well  as  the  'new  woman,'  has  come  to  stay.  Educa- 
tion has  lifted  her  out  and  beyond  those  'old-fashioned'  ways. 
Now  we  can  talk  with  the  nations  of  the  world  bv  wires 


48-1:  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

under  the  seas,  and  without  wires  over  the  seas.  We  open 
our  eyes  in  the  morning,  and  press  the  button.  The  morning 
papers  are  sent  up,  and  we  read  what  the  heads  of  nations 
will  tell  us  tomorrow.  All  this  interferes  with  baby-raising. 
For  'babies  must  cry  to  be  healthy,'  and  society  has  excluded 
them  from  churches,  theaters,  banquets,  receptions,  and,  in- 
deed, almost  every  public  place  (even  the  most  desirable 
flats  and  cottages  are  forbidden  to  the  possessors  of  children). 
Papa  must  go,  and  mamma  wants  to  go ;  but  who  will  stay 
with  baby,  The  hired  girl  ?  O  no,  not  she  !  And  now  comes 
the  time  of  the  young  mother's  trials.  She  is  left  alone  with 
her  baby,  or  babies.  Day  and  night  she  must  be  at  her  post. 
Now  she  finds  time  for  reflection,  and  she  usually  does  so 
about  in  this  wise : 

•  "  'What  was  I  educated  for  ?  I  am  shut  out  from  every- 
thing. I  have  no  time  for  society,  and  must,  of  necessity, 
be  dropped  out.  I  am  already  a  nurse,  and  am  fast  becoming 
a  household  drudge.  And  yet  my  husband  expects  me  to 
meet  him  with  a  smile,  and  look  as  fresh  as  I  did  before  we 
were  married.' 

"This  brings  to  mind  an  instance  that  occurred  at  my 
home  a  few  years  ago.  A  young  widow  had  a  handsome 
young  lad  of  three  years,  who  required  a  great  deal  of  will 
power  to  manage.  After  a  tussle  with  him  one  day  which 
completely  exhausted  her,  she  dropped  into  a  chair,  and 
with  a  most  distressed  expression  of  countenance  exclaimed : 
'Oh,  my  God !  What  shall  I  do  ?'  Turning  to  me  she  said 
in  the  most  pitiful  tones :  'Tell  me.  Doctor,  is  this  the  only 
way  the  world  must  be  populated?'  My  heart  went  out  to 
her  in  sympathy,  but  I  could  not  refrain  a  smile.  I  said : 
'Xever  mind,  my  dear  friend,  it  will  all  come  out  right. 
Children  are  very  much  alike,  and  one  is  not  so  bad  as  a 
dozen !' 

"  'A  dozen !'  she  echoed.  'I  would  be  in  the  insane  asylum 
if  I  had  more  than  one,  and  I  will  tell  you  now  that  I  will 


Some  of  11i;i<  Liik  Experiences.  485 

never  ai;ain  j^xl  iiiarric'<l.  tn  liavt'  tin's  repeated.'  'I'lius  far 
she  lias  kept,  lier  word. 

"As  I  have  said,  this  is  a  many-sided  cjuestion  ;  Inil  it  is 
in  the  hands  of  the  ])uhhc,  and  I  have  faith  that  it  will  be 
examined,  analyzed  and  disposed  of  for  the  j:(ood  of  our 
nation.  Since  the  landing-  of  the  pilgrims  our  women  have 
not  been  lacking  in  their  duty  and  she  will  be  found  in  the 
future,  as  in  the  past,  faithful  and  loyal  to  her  country. 

"The  best  article  I  have  seen  on  this  subject  was  an  edi- 
torial published  some  weeks  ago  in  the  Orcgonian — 'r^lir)t 
on  Population.'  I  believe  a  reprint  of  this  article  at  thi-^ 
time  would  be  very  beneficial." 

ori^x.oni.^n's  editorial  ox   "race  suicide." 

The  article  referred  to  is  as  follows : 

"President  Eliot's  strictures  on  excess  in  athletics,  and 
his  opinion  that  post-graduate  studies  conduce  to  celibacy 
may  be  unreservedly  endorsed,  but  when  he  deplores  the 
small  families  or  no  families,  of  the  highly  cultivated  as  a 
thing  to  be  reprimanded,  if  not,  indeed,  extirpated,  he  gives 
himself  bootless  concern  about  something  for  which  there  is 
no  help,  and  something  which  is  probably,  on  the  whole,  the 
best  arrangement  possible.  A-gitation  is  undesirable  in  a  Har- 
vard man,  anyway,  and  the  course  of  nature  is  something  it 
is  rarely  profitable  to  seek  to  interfere  with.  The  fertility  of 
the  human  race  is  in  inverse  ratio  to  culture,  possiblv  to  in- 
telligence. This  is  a  universal  law.  It  applies  to  modern 
London  or  Boston  as  much  as  to  the  ancient  world — to  Ger- 
many as  well  as  to  France.  It  forms  a  part  of  the  general 
system  by  which  nature  prevents  overcrowding  of  the  race. 
Every  stage  of  human  development  has  its  peculiar  checks  on 
population.  ^^'hat  starvation  and  massacre  achieve  in 
savagery,  the  love  of  ease  and  the  pride  of  luxury  afford  to 
the  cultivated.  It  is  unnecessary  to  expatiate  upon  the  rea- 
sons whv  devotees  of  literature,  art  and    fashion    content 


4-8()  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

themselves  with  small  families,  or  with  no  children  at  all," 
or  even  without  marriage.  They  are  familiar  to  all,  and 
are  not  amenable  to  reason.  These  matters  are  no  more 
referable  to  public  policy,  or  religious  mandates,  than  love 
is  to  the  locksmith.  Accept  them,  therefore,  without  protest 
or  alarm. 

"There  is  no  great  loss.  The  highly  cultivated  are  not 
necessarily  more  fitted  for  the  perpetuation  of  the  race  than 
are  the  children  of  the  soil.  We  require  manv  thinss  for 
offense  and  defense  of  organized  society  in  advance  of 
poise  and  intonation.  The  highly  cultivated  are  not  the  best 
soldiers,  builders,  or  traders.  They  are  not  the  most  de- 
sirable parents,  either,  in  many  ways.  Their  children  are 
likely  to  be  without  the  struggle  which  in  early  life,  or  not 
at  all,  gives  strength  for  the  supreme  battles.  Inheritance 
can  give  the  child  strong  body,  and  to  some  extent  a  moral 
intensity,  but  it  is  one  of  the  plainest  and  most  pathetic 
facts  of  human  experience  that  intellectual  power  cannot 
be  transmitted.  The  greatest  of  earth  left  no  descendants. 
The  family  of  Shakespeare  has  perished  from  among  the 
living,  and  Napoleon's  only  child  died  a  weakling  at  twenty- 
one.  So  of  Milton,  so  of  Cromwell,  so  of  Washington.  The 
children  of  the  great,  as  a  rule,  belong  to  hopeless  mediocrity. 
Many  of  them  are  imbecile,  many  are  vicious  and  depraved, 
many  of  them  are  crushed  by  the  weight  of  their  name  and 
expectations,  or  seduced  by  the  indulgence  which  power  puts 
within  their  reach. 

"And  it  is  better  so.  If  the  superior  circumstances  in  life 
perpetuated  themselves,  as  prosperously  as  the  poor,  the 
result  would  be  an  aristocracy  of  brains  and  accomplishments, 
which  would  do  away  with  the  healthy  ferment  of  society, 
and  prevent  the  present  accession  to  power  of  the  sons  of 
the  soil.  The  ruling  classes  would  be  impregnable,  and 
]\Iarkham's  'man  with  the  hoe'  would  be  a  realit}^  instead  of 
a  libel.     How  lone  would  this  continent  resist  the  encroach- 


vSoME  OF  IIi:k  I.ii'i-.  rCxr-KiMivN'CES.  487 

mcnts  of  lMin)])f  if  i(  wvrv  jK-oplcd  with  Charles  Eliot  Xor- 
tons  and  Edward  Atkinsons?  How  long-  wonld  the  world 
have  looked  in  vain  for  escape  if  it  had  lofjkcd  for  the  de- 
votees of  philosophy  and  fashion  to  clear  the  way?" 

FINDS    MAN    ON    'IIIK   KOAI) — LOOKS    LIKI-:   CASE   OF   URUNKEN- 
NKSS,   I!UT   REALLY   WAS   RHEUMATISM. 

North  Yakima,  Wash.,  December  15,  1903. 

To  the  Editor:  I  have  noticed  the  editorial  and  other 
notices  of  the  case  of  the  man  who  was  taken  to  jail,  sup- 
posed to  be  drunk,  but  after  two  or  three  days — too  late 
to  save  his  life — was  found  to  be  suffering-  from  concussion 
of  the  brain.  Today's  paper  reports  a  similar  case  in  Chi- 
cago. Now  society  demands  that  a  competent  physician  be 
called  in  such  cases  by  the  police, 

I  had  an  experience  last  Saturday,  December  13,  which 
is  along  this  line  and  worth  relating.  It  was  a  cold,  foggy 
day,  the  foggiest  day  I  have  seen  in  North  Yakima.  At  3 
p.  M.  I  ordered  my  rig  and  started  to  see  a  patient  three 
miles  out.  The  ground  had  been  frozen  for  some  time,  the 
roads  were  quite  smooth  and  the  driving  good.  When  a  mile 
or  more  out  I  saw  something  in  the  middle  of  the  road  loom 
up  in  the  iog.  I  thought  it  might  be  a  mattress  or  roll  of 
bedding  lost  oft'  a  w-agon,  but  to  my  surprise  I  saw  an  active 
movement  for  a  moment,then  all  was  still.  As  we  neared  it 
Pride,  ni}'  horse,  swerved,  and  tried  to  run,  but  he  knows 
my  voice  and  always  obeys  it.  I  reined  in  close  to  the  object, 
and,  to  my  surprise,  I  saw  it  was  a  large  man  in  a  long  over- 
coat. I  am  sure  he  was  over  six  feet  and  would  weigh  nearl}- 
300  pounds.  His  knees  were  drawn  up  and  his  overcoat  cov- 
ered him  completely.  His  face  was  toward  me,  and  it  was 
swollen  and  bloated,  and  he  was  looking  straight  at  me.  I 
thought  he  was  drunk,  as  he  looked  like  a  man  who  had 
been  on  a  debauch  for  a  week  or  two.  I  have  seen  many 
drunken   men   in   mv   dav,   and   believed   I    could   diasrnose 


488  Dr.  Owexs- Adair. 

drunkenness.  I  am  not  afraid  of  drunken  men.  I  looked 
at  him  and  said:  "What  is  the  matter  with  you?"  He  re- 
pHed :  "I  fell  down,  and  can't  get  up."  I  said:  "Do  you 
think  you  can  get  up  if  I  help  you?"  He  answered:  "Yes." 
I  stopped  and  took  hold  of  his  big  bloated  hand,  expecting 
to  be  greeted  by  the  fumes  of  whisky,  but  to  my  astonish- 
ment there  were  neither  fumes  of  whisky  or  tobacco.  Say- 
ing, "Now,  do  your  best,  and  only  try  to  get  on  your  knees 
first."  I  pulled  and  pulled  and  he  puffed,  and  with  his  big 
hand,  long  arm  and  hard  work  he  got  on  his  knees.  "Now 
rest,"  I  said,  "and  you  will  make  it  next  time."  A  few  more 
pulls  and  he  was  on  his  feet  and  I  was  holding  to  him  to 
keep  him  from  falling.  He  looked  down  on  me  and  asked : 
"What  is  your  name?"  I  said:  "Aly  name  is  Dr.  Adair. 
I  am  a  physician ;  where  are  you  going  ?" 

He  responded :  "Right  there,  to  the  next  house.  I  have 
been  in  the  hospital  for  two  months  with  rheumatism.  I  am 
an  expert  pork  packer  and  have  come  out  here  to  oversee 
the  packing  of  pork.  I  fell  down  and  could  not  get  up, 
though  I  tried  four  times,  but  I  can  get  to  the  house  now." 
He  reeled  and  staggered,  and  his  voice  was  thick  and  husky 
like  a  drunken  man's,  but  he  was  not  drunk,  neither  had  he 
been  drinking,  for  there  was  no  smell  of  drinking  about  him. 
Aly  family  all  have  the  sense  of  smell  highly  developed,  and 
my  power  of  smell  is  not  impaired.  I  have  always  boasted 
that  I  could  detect  whisky  or  tobacco  on  a  man  twenty  feet 
off,  and  I  am  sure  I  was  not  mistaken  in  this  man.  I  looked 
back  and  saw  him  slowly  making  his  way  to  the  house.  Had 
he  been  two  hours  later  he  might  have  been  run  over  and 
killed,  for  the  night  was  very  dark,  and  in  that  case  his 
death  would  very  likely  have  been  reported  as  "due  to  drunk- 
enness." 


SoMic  oi'   IIi:k   Lii-|-.   Ivxi'i:i<ii:n(I-.s.  489 

WILL    ALWAYS    LOVIC    'EM — MEN    W.i.L    V.K    TKUE    TO    WOMK.V, 
LVEN  ATHLETIC  WOMEN. 

North  Yakima,  Wash.,  December  28,  190:;. 

To  tlic  lulitor:  I  see  that  President  EHot  of  Harvard  is 
again  iinding  fault  with  the  American  women  of  the  present 
age.  A  short  time  ago  he  was  taking  women  in  the  higher 
walks  of  life  to  task  for  not  raising  large  families.  Now  he 
is  criticising  her  for  developing  her  muscular  system,  and 
increasing  her  physical  strength.  He  objects  to  her  ability 
to  row,  to  hunt,  to  jump  the  bar,  to  kick  the  ball,  to  punch 
the  bag,  to  put  the  shot.  He  declares  women  were  not  orig- 
inally intended  for  such  vigorous  and  violent  exercise,  which 
belongs  to  man.  Furthermore,  he  says :  "There  may  be 
some  women  who  are  made  in  such  a  strange,  unnatural  way 
that  it  would  not  be  injurious  to  them  to  put  the  shot,  etc., 
but  to  the  great  majority  of  women  it  would  hurt  them  for 
life." 

Now  to  a  physician,  who  has  made  woman  a  study  for 
years,  this  sounds  like  the  merest  twaddle.  I  admit  that  the 
glamor  of  sentiment  interspersed  through  the  writings  of 
eminent  people  adds  much  to  their  attractiveness,  as  spices 
tickle  the  palate  and  give  flavor  to  delicate  and  delicious 
dishes ;  but  facts  are  facts,  although  expressed  in  a  homely 
manner.  Physically  the  frailest  and  most  delicate  woman 
is  made  identically  the  same  as  the  Amazon  or  the  renowned 
fish-woman  of  Europe,  or  even  man,  in  that  she  has  the 
same  number  of  bones,  muscles,  vesicles,  nerves,  internal 
viscera,  fingers,  toes,  hands  and  feet,  etc.  Every  child  has 
its  beginning,  development  and  growth  by  and  through  the 
same  natural  lanes.  God  created  man  and  He  then  created 
woman.  And  to  the  end  of  time,  if  th^re  is  to  be  any  end, 
man  w\\\  go  on  loving  woman  because  she  is  a  woman,  and 
woman  will  love  man  because  he  is  a  man.  No  amount  of 
precept  or  training  will  change  this,  and  yet  the}'  are  unlike 
in  a  marked  de^iree.     No  amount  of  education  or  training 


490  Dr.  Owens- An.MK. 

will  change  this  law.  God  is  superior  and  He  has  put  us  here 
to  work  out  the  problems  of  this  life.  If  physical  exercise 
is  good  for  man,  and  we  all  admit  that  it  is,  then  it  is  equally 
beneficial  to  woman.  It  adds  to  her  strength,  her  beauty, 
her  usefulness  and  her  longevity.  Violent  exercise  is  no 
more  hurtful  to  woman  than  to  man.  President  Eliot  ought 
to  know  that  the  strength  and  power  of  the  muscular  system 
depends  upon  its  constant  and  systematic  use,  as  the  mental 
faculties  are  improved  by  the  mental  educational  drill.  Any 
amount  of  mental  or  physical  wealth  acquired  by  woman 
will  not  prevent  man  from  loving  and  cherishing  her.  For 
he  is  a  true  cavalier,  and  will  love  her  more  for  every  added 
charm.  Though  he  may  not  be  called  upon  to  defend  her, 
or  lead  her  in  the  chase,  he  will  think  none  the  less  of  her 
should  she  pass  him  in  the  race,  or  be  the  first  to  accomplish 
that  wonderful  feat  of  swimming  across  the  English  channel. 
No,  it  is  man's  nature  to  love  woman.  He  was  made  for 
herj  and  she  for  him.  As  time  goes  on,  and  the  nations 
become  more  educated,  refined  and  cultivated,  love  will  be- 
come more  purified  and  intensified. 

Mrs.  Owens-Adair,  M.  D. 

go  to  bed  with  the  chickens,  and  then  the  children 
will  be  up  with  the  lark. 

North  Yakima,  Wash.,  July  15,  1903. 

To  the  Editor :  I  always  read  or  look  through  your  ed- 
itorial page,  and  I  beg  to  differ  with  parts  of  the  following : 

"Will  not  the  State  Commission  on  Child  Labor  divest 
parents  in  the  country  of  their  tyrannical  power  to  drag 
their  children  out  of  bed  at  an  early  hour  and  force  them  to 
milk  the  cows,  hoe  the  garden  and  do  the  drudgery  generally 
that  children  in  the  country  so  greatly  detest?  Shall  we  not 
have  complete  einancipation  of  the  American  child?  Shop 
and  factory  labor  is  nothing  to  farm  drudgery.  It  is  horrible 
that  a  child  should  be  compelled  to  work.     Moreover,  if  not 


SOMIC    OF    I  Ilk    I, UK    Exi'FvUIKN'CES.  41)1 

tauj^dit  to  work  when  a  child  he  never  will  work  when  a  man  ; 
so  this  law,  if  rightly  administered,  would  make  hfc  for 
every  individual  one  long  holiday," 

First.  I  do  not  believe  farm  work  should  be  termed 
drudgery  any  more  than  factory  and  shop  labor.  In  my 
opinion  farm  labor  is  far  more  healthy  and  to  be  desired. 
Boys  and  girls  who  are  reared  on  a  farm  and  are  taugght 
to  do  all  kinds  of  farm  work  are,  as  a  rule,  much  stronger 
and  more  vigorous  Ih.in  city-reared  children.  This  stands 
to  reason.  Their  work  is  out  of  doors,  where  they  can  breathe 
God's  pure,  health-giving  air,  which  purifies  their  blood, 
and  gives  food  and  strength  to  their  young  and  growing 
tissues.  The  country,  in  my  estimation,  is  the  place  to  raise 
children.  There  is  plenty  of  pure  milk,  fresh  eggs,  butter 
and  vegetables,  which  are  the  best  food  for  children.  Then 
they  get  wholesome  exercise  to  develop  and  strengthen  their 
muscles.  These  are  the  essentials  to  be  sought  in  giving  us 
a  foundation  for  healthy  men  and  women.  Milking  cows, 
feeding  pigs  and  chickens,  breaking  calves  and  colts,  riding 
horses  and  cultivating  the  garden  should  and  can  be  made 
pleasant  and  wholesome  employment,  and  not  "drudgery." 
If  children  were  required  to  go  to  bed  when  the  birds  go  to 
roost,  they  would  be  ready  to  rise  with  the  birds,  and,  like 
them,  with  a  song  in  their  mouths.  They  would  be  ready 
to  greet  the  faithful  cow,  and  have  an  appetite  for  her  warm, 
sweet,  rich  milk. 

I  do  not  like  that  expression,  ''tyrannical."  Country  par- 
ents have  as  much  love  for  their  children  as  have  city  people, 
and  my  observation  is  that  country  children  do  not  "detest" 
work  any  more  than  city  children. 

As  a  rule  children  do  not  like  work  and  do  love  play,  and 
as  too  much  work  "makes  Jack  a  dull  boy,"  and  too  much 
play  makes  him  a  bad  boy,  to  make  him  both  good  and  bright 
he  must  have  both  work  and  play. 

Who  can  have  the  welfare  of  the  child  at  heart  so  much 


492  Dr.  Owexs- Adair. 

as  the  natural  father  and  mother?  I  do  not  think  it  is  "hor- 
rible"" for  children  to  work.  I  believe  that  all  children  should 
be  required  to  work  intelligently  and  S)'-stematically  with 
their  hands  and  that  they  should  be  taught  that  mental  and 
physical  activity  are  essential  to  health,  h:;ppiness  and  long 
life.  Just  now,  when  many  of  the  old  pioneers  are  passing 
away,  may  we  not  learn  a  lesson  from  their  lives?  Where 
and  how  were  they  raised?  Most  of  them  have  lived  out 
their  three-score  and  ten  years,  ]\Iany  have  reached  four- 
score and  some  are  near  the  century  mark.  How  did  these 
sturdy  men  and  women  begin  their  valuable  and  useful  lives  ? 
Inquire  and  you  will  find  that  most  of  them  were  raised  on 
a  farm  and  were  taught  that  wholesome  lesson,  "Early  to 
bed  and  early  to  rise  makes  a  man  healthy,  wealthy  and 
wise."  Do  not  let  us,  in  these  times  of  fast  living,  lose  sight 
of  all  that  was  good  in  the  past.  Let  us  stop,  consider  and 
compare  notes,  and  let  us  remember  that  oldways  have  been 
tried,  while  news  ones  have  yet  to  stand  the  test. 

J\Irs.  Owens-Adair,  M.  D. 

ladies  should  ride  astride. 

North  Yakima,  Wash.,  April  14,  1904. 

I  was  handed  a  copy  of  the  Daily  Seattle  Times  and  re- 
quested to  reply  to  "What  a  Man  Thinks  of  a  Woman  Who 
Rides  Astride."  The  request  came  from  three  young  ladies, 
farmers'  daughters,  who  have  ridden  horseback  all  their 
lives  and  are  all  good  horsewomen.  But  during  the  last 
three  or  four  years  they  have  discarded  the  side-saddle,  and 
now  use  the  cross-saddle.  One  of  them  came  near  losing 
her  life  about  four  years  ago  by  being  thrown  from  a  horse. 
Her  father  said  in  my  presence :  "Had  you  been  riding  in 
the  sensible  way  this  would  not  have  happened." 

I  judge,  from  Dr.  Montague  Tallack's  name  and  style  o'f 
writing,  that  he  must  be  a  foreigner,  and,  as  I  am  a  woman 
and  a  physician  of  thirty  years'  standing,  I  feel  that  I  can 


SoAii-:  oi''   lli:i<   Liii;   I"..\1'MI<ii-;.\(KS.  4U.'J 

speak  for  American  wtjiiien  from  a  woman's  standpoint. 
The  writer  starts  out  by  criticising  a  pliysician's  opinion. 
To  my  mind,  if  (here  is  any  person  who  should  be  entitled  to 
a  logical  opinion  on  this  subject  it  is  a  physician,  who  is 
supposed  to  have  a  knowledge  of  the  anatomy  and  physiology 
of  the  human  body  and  its  capabilities.  IVTr.  Tallack  has 
but  to  visit  a  first-class  circus  and  watch  those  beautiful 
muscular  women  riding  and  performing  on  the  bars  to  have 
his  lilllc  "(i()  and  70-angle  degree"  theory  exploded.  Oh,  no, 
Mr.  Tallack,  God  gave  women  legs  for  their  use,  and  Tor 
tile  same  use  for  which  He  gave  them  to  men.  The  writer 
discusses  the  length  and  mold  of  the  legs  of  men  and  women 
to  give  strength  to  his  argument.  He  says  men's  legs  are 
long  and  flat  and  women's  are  short  and  round.  Well,  in 
my  time  I  have  seen  a  good  many  women  with  long  legs 
and  a  good  many  men  with  short  ones.  It  was  often  said 
of  Senator  Douglas  that  he  was  taller  sitting  down  than  he 
was  standing  up.  You  could  not  say  that  of  President  Lin- 
coln. President  Grant  had  short  legs.  And  so  has  Lord 
Roberts.  I  was  astonished  to  hear  that  a  Mr.  Smith  of  Eng- 
land uses  the  side-saddle  for  breaking  his  high  jumpers.  I 
wonder  if  President  Roosevelt  and  General  Wood  knew  of 
that.  They  might  have  fitted  out  their  Rough  Riders  with 
side-saddles  and  made  a  great  hit.  Mr.  Tallack  tells  us  that 
if  women  make  a  practice  of  riding  astride  they  will  become 
fat  and  gross.  I  take  issue  with  him  on  that  point.  It  is 
a  fact,  however,  that  w^omen,  as  a  rule,  do  grow  corpulent 
after  middle  age.  but  so  often  do  men  as  w^ell. 

Nothing  will  preserve  w^oman's  grace  and  her  symmetrical 
form  so  much  as  vigorous  and  systematic  exercise,  and  horse- 
back riding  stands  at  the  head  of  the  list,  providing  she  has 
a  foot  in  each  stirrup,  instead  of  having  the  right  limb  twisted 
around  a  horn,  and  the  left  foot  in  a  stirrup  tw-elve  or  fifteen 
inches  above  where  it  ought  to  be.  If  she  sits  astride  her 
saddle  she  w'ill  relieve  herself  of  those  imaginarv  iniurious 


494  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

"jolts"  and  "jars"  received  from  a  rough  trotter.  This  she 
could  not  do  sitting  sidewise.  I  have  been  a  horseback  rider 
all  my  life.  I  was  raised  on  a  farm  and  learned  to  ride  before 
I  can  remember.  As  I  grew  to  womanhood  society  demanded 
a  side-saddle,  and  I  had  to  adopt  it.  Some  ten  years  ago, 
when  cross-riding  was  beginning  to  be  advocated,  I  adopted 
the  new  style.  Now,  when  a  pale,  delicate,  nervous  patient 
is  brought  to  me,  especially  if  from  the  country,  I  say : 
"Now,  in  addition  to  3'Our  medicine  I  want  you  to  take  a 
horseback  ride  every  day,  but  mind  you  must  ride  the  new 
style.  I  forbid  the  side-saddle,  and  in  addition,  if  you  have 
a  flower  garden  or  a  vegetable  garden,  give  them  special  at- 
tention, and  you  will  soon  be  strong  and  have  roses  in  your 
cheeks." 

The  testimony  of  the  Baroness  who  taught  the  Russian 
Empress  and  most  of  the  Queens  of  Europe  is  rather  ancient 
and  not  to  the  point,  as  all  women  rode  sideways  in  those 
days.  We  are  now  discussing  cross-riding  for  women.  This 
is  an  age  of  progress  and  rapid  transit.  It  seems  that  we 
have  no  time  or  patience  for  the  slow  old  styles  and  ways^ 
and  women  are  keeping  pace  with  the  age.  Indian  women 
have  ridden  astride  for  centuries.  To  them  motherhood  has 
no  terrors. 

I  would  advise  Mr.  Tallack  to  come  up  to  our  state  fair 
next  October,  and  he  will  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  many 
pretty  and  graceful  women  riding  crosswise,  and  he  will 
have  an  opportunity  of  witnessing  the  squaw  races,  a  great 
attraction.  He  would  see  eight  or  ten  Indian  maidens, 
decked  in  gay  colors,  ride  out  on  the  track  and  take  their 
positions  in  front  of  the  grandstand  and  wait  for  the  bell- 
tap.  They  bestride  their  horses  with  grace  and  ease,  for 
they  are  riders.  I  have  witnessed  these  races  for  four  years, 
and  every  time  these  Indian  maidens  come  on  I  have  heard 
both  men  and  women  all  around  me  saying :  "Now,  that 
is  the  way  women  should  ride.     That's  the  sensible  way." 


SoMi*:  ()!•  Ili;u  l^iii:  ICxi'KKii'iN'CES.  495 

No,  no,  Mr.  Tallack,  you  arc  quite  behind  the  times.  The 
side-saddle  will  soon  be  a  thing  of  the  jjast,  and  will  soon 
be  found  only  in  museums,  where  it  will  be  kept  and  viewed 
as  a  relic  of  barbarism,  not  only  to  woman,  but  to  that 
noblest  of  animals,  the  horse. 

Mrs.  Owens-Ada  I  r,  M.  D. 


49G  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIL 

North  Yakima,  Wash.,  April  24,  1904. 

Aly  Dear  Old  Friend,  Dr.  Mattie  Hughes :  You  will 
doubtless  be  surprised  to  hear  from  me,  but  today  I  was 
reading'  Mr.  Cannon's  testimony  in  the  "Smoot"  case,  and 
I  see  by  his  testimony  that  he  is  70  years  old,  and  that  he 
married  you  in  1884,  that  you  were  his  fourth  wife,  and 
that  in  188G  he  married  two  other  women,  and  that  his 
six  wives  Avere  all  living  in  Salt  Lake  City  or  county.  If 
I  remember  rightly,  you  were  about  22  or  24  when  we  were 
at  Ann  Arbor.  Reading  this  testimony  has  brought  back 
many  memories  of  you  during  our  stay  at  the  old  widow's. 
(I  have' forgotten  her  name.) 

You  will  remember  that  I  was  reducing  my  body  weight 
under  Dr.  Vaughn.  I  shall  never  forget  the  pangs  of 
hunger  that  I  suffered  in  getting  rid  of  thirty-five  pounds. 
And  how  the  good  old  landlady  would  go  waddling  around 
under  her  two  hundred  pounds  getting  my  scanty  meals 
and  showing  her  disgust  for  my  scanty  fare.  She  gave 
expression  to  her  views  one  day  by  saying :  "Well,  I  don't 
think  I  would  die  in  debt  to  my  belly."  I  told  her  that 
many  people  died  before  their  time  by  being  too  good  to 
their  stomachs.  I  have  thought  of  you  many  times  and 
wondered  what  you  were  doing.  Some  years  ago  Colonel 
Adair  opened  a  periodical  and  said :  "Here  is  a  woman 
doctor  who  is  in  the  state  legislature."  I  said:  "I  will  bet 
that  is  Dr.  Mattie  Hughes."  He  replied:  "Yes,  that  is 
her  name."  It  was  a  published  interview  by  some  woman. 
It  was  the  first  time  I  had  heard  of  you  since  we  parted 
at  A.  A.  I  thought  then  that  I  would  write  to  you,  but 
"Procrastination  is  the  thief  of  time."     The  article  said  that 


Some  of  IIi.k   I.iM':   l'.xi'i.i<iK\(.h^.  i!)? 

you  had  two  small  children,  so  I  supposed  then  that  you 
had  only  been  married  a  short  time,  but  from  the  testimony 
you  were  married  the  same  year  that  I  was.  Colonel  Adair 
is  only  seven  months  older  than  I  am.  The  reporter  said 
you  were  very  gray.  Well,  twenty-four  years  have  brought 
many  changes,  but  I  am  not  very  gray  yet.,  and  though  G4 
past,  I  am  seldom  taken  to  be  more  than  45  or  50,  My 
health  is  good,  and  I  drive  and  come  and  go  just  as  I  did 
twenty-five  years  ago. 

And  how  are  you?  How  many  children  have  you,  and 
how  old  are  they?  Is  not  this  MJr.  Cannon  the  same  man 
that  stopped  over  Sunday  at  Ann  Arbor  to  visit  you?  And 
do  you  remember  the  conversation  we  had  the  next  morn- 
ing in  my  room?  You  were  much  pleased  with  his  visit, 
and  told  me  that  he  was  a  high  official  in  the  church  and 
had  two  or  three  wives.  I  said :  "Mattie,  you  will  go  back 
to  Salt  Lake  and  marry  some  man  that  has  more  than  one 
wife,  for  you  will  marry  for  influence  and  power,  and  you 
may  be  sure  that  all  the  influential  men  of  your  church 
will  enjoy  the  luxury  of  fresh  wives."  You  said :  ''Polyg- 
amy belongs  to  our  church,  and  I  would  not  mind  it  if  I 
could  be  the  favorite  wife."  I  replied:  "You  will  be  for 
a  time,  but  you  may  depend  upon  it,  the  man  who  has  the 
privilege  of  taking  another  wife  will  soon  tire  of  the  last 
and  will  find  a  new  one.  And  the  older  and  more  influential 
he  becomes  the  more  wives  he  will  have."  From  his  testi- 
mony he  confesses  he  married  two  women  in  1886,  which 
must  have  been  after  he  served  six  months  in  prison,  which 
he  says  was  nineteen  years  ago.  I  am  wondering  if  your 
marriage  brought  you'  any  real  pleasure.  I  gave  birth  to 
a  baby  girl  at  47.  About  your  age  now.  You  are  still 
young,  and  ought  to  have  a  husband  near  your  o\yn  age. 
Are  you  devoting  your  time  to  medicine  or  politics?  I 
should  be  glad  to  hear  from  you.  If  the  spirit  moves  you 
write  to  me.     As  ever,  your  friend  and  classmate. 

B.  A.  Owexs-Adair. 


498  Dr.  Owexs  -  Adaik. 

social  life  and  professional  work. 
1904. 

Social  claims  and  pleasures  are  largely  crowded  out  of 
a  busy  professional  life,  and  to  one  of  a  warm  social  nature, 
like  Dr.  Adair,  this  is  a  real  privation.  She  often  regrets 
her  inability  to  return  her  many  social  calls,  or  to  accept  her 
frequent  society  inyitations.  When  she  does  attempt  to 
attend  some  particularly  attractive  social  function  she  is 
almost  sure  to  receive  an  imperative  professional  call  at 
the  same  time.  One  example  of  this  will  serve  as  an  illus- 
tration. Having  received  a  special  invitation  to  a  Shake- 
spearean reading,  given  by  an  exclusive  ladies'  club,  whose 
members  are  the  elite  of  the  city,  she  prepared  to  attend, 
expecting  to  enjoy  a  social  and  intellectual  treat.  After 
arraying  herself  with  careful  elegance  and  placing  herself  in 
the  hands  of  the  hairdresser  and  "beauty  doctor,"  she  was 
on  her  way  to  the  club  rooms  chatting  with  her  lady  friendS; 
who  thronged  the  adjacent  street,   entrance   and   stairway, 

when  she  was  overtaken  by  Mrs. ,  her  office  assistant, 

who  breathlessly  announced : 

"Doctor,  you  are  wanted  in  a  confinemicnt  case." 

"Where  is  it?"  asked  the  doctor. 

"Two  miles  out  of  town,"  was  the  answer.  "I  have  or- 
dered your  horse,  and  the  man  is  waiting." 

In  the  meantime  they  were  hurrying  back  to  the  office, 
where  the  doctor  hastily  changed  her  festal  garments  for 
those  more  suited  to  the  case  in  hand,  seized  her  medicine 
case  and  other  necessary  appliances  and  drove  rapidly  away 
at  the  very  hour  when  she  should  have  been  exchanging 
pleasant  greetings  with  her  friends  and  acquaintances. 

She  found  the  patient,  a  German  woman,  in  a  neglected, 
cheerless,  disorderly  house,  with  three  young  children,  and 
with  no  aid  but  that  of  the  husband ;  but  she  proceeded 
promptly  to  assist  the  suffering  woman,  bring  order  out 
of  chaos,  and  make  the  best  of  things  as  they  A,vere.     Here 


SOMli   OJ'-    JIi;k    \a\-K    J-Lxi-KKIliNCES.  A*.}\) 

she  spent  seven  weary  hours,  doing  the  work  of  a  nurse, 
as  well  as  that  of  a  physician,  and  finally  left  the  woman 
comfortable  and  grateful,  with  a  new  baby  boy  beside  her. 
This  was  the  fifth  child,  one  having  previously  died,  and 
the  mother  declared  that  she  had  never  before  gotten 
through  so  well  in  every  respect  as  at  this  time.  The  hus- 
band also  was  greatly  pleased  and  assured  the  doctor  that 
he  would  pay  her  bill  cheerfully  and  promptly,  and  he  kept 
his,  word.  This  was  some  compensation  for  all  she  had 
missed,  but,  as  she  said  at  the  time  and  often  repeats :  "It 
is  useless  for  me  to  attempt  to  keep  up  with  my  social  duties. 
Society  life  and  professional  life  are  well-night  incompatible. 
The  one  must  inevitably  yield  to  the  other." 

A  week  later  the  father,  a  rosy-cheeked,  jolly  German, 
called  at  Dr.  Adair's  office,  and,  drawing  several  gold 
twenties  from  his  pocket,  asked  what  her  bill  amounted  to. 

"Twenty  dollars,"  said  the  doctor,  and  he  handed  her  the 
money  with  alacrity,  and  jokingly  asked :  '  "How  much 
would  you  charge  to  bring  him  a  mate?" 

"Just  twenty  dollars,"  she  laughingly  responded. 

"You  shall  have  it  when  you  bring  him,"  emphatically 
declared  the  jovial  farmer  as  he  took  his  departure. 

LOST   IN   THE   FOG. 

(1904.) 

An  amusing  as  well  as  exasperating  episode  occurred  one 
night  when  the  doctor  was  called  by  telephone  to  attend 
a  case  of  confinement  in  what  is  called  "Old  Town,"  four 
miles  south  of  North  Yakima. 

She  was  perfectly  familiar  with  the  road,  having  driven 
over  it  hundreds  of  times  day  and  night,  but  on  this  occasion 
it  v^^as  so  foggy  that  she  could  not  see  three  feet  ahead. 
As  she  left  the  stable  her  carriage  lights  showed  not  more 
that  two  feet  of  the  road  before  her,  but  she  had  no  thought 
of  missing  the  way.    After  traveling,  as  she  supposed,  about 


500  Dr.  Owkxs  -  Adair. 

half  way  to  her  destination,  the  lights  of  North  Yakima 
loomed  up  in  the  mist,^  just  ahead!  Dismayed,  but  un- 
daunted, she  determined  to  try  it  again,  but  the  Horse  was 
of  an  opposite  mind,  and  she  got  him  turned  about  with  diffi- 
culty, and  the  next  minute  found  herself  run  up  against 
a  familiar  rockpile.  This  gave  her  her  bearings  again  and 
she  pulled  her  horse  into  the  road  and  urged  him  onward. 
But,  after  some  time,  by  closely  watching  the  roadside,  she 
know  she  was  lost  again.  Convinced  now  that  she  could 
not  guide  the  horse  correctly,  she  gave  him  the  rein  and 
a  command  to  "go." 

It  was  impossible  for  her  to  tell  where  they  were,  and 
she  soon  found  herself  in  an  alley  so  narrow  she  could 
see  both  sides  of  it  in  dim  outline,  by  the  aid  of  her  carriage 
lights. 

It  seemed  as  if  they  would  never  reach  the  street  at  the 
end  of  the  alley,  but  in  time  she  drove  over  a  sidewalk, 
and  in  trying  to  turn  up  the  street  had  driven  into  the 
middle  of  it.  She  could  see  the  city  lights  only  dimly  half 
a  block  away.  Continuing  on,  she  soon  drove  up  to  the 
stable  from  which  she  had  originally  started  just  as  the 
town  clock  struck  two. 

Then  she  knew  it  was  just  an  hour  since  she  left.  She 
called  to  the  stablemen : 

"How  many  of  you  are  there  here?" 

"Two,"  was  the  response. 

"Then  one  of  you  must  go  with  me.  Can  you  find  the 
way  to  Old  Town?"  to  a  grizzled  old  fellow  who  appeared. 

"Yes,  madam,  I  can  drive  anywhere  in  this  valley,  but 
the  first  thing  you  should  do  is  to  put  out  those  lights." 

This  done  they  set  out,  and  this  time  succeeded  in  reach- 
ing Old  Town,  but  not  without  getting  off  the  right  road 
several  times,  which  took  some  of  the  conceit  out  of  the 
old  stagedriver. 


So.M  i:  Ml'    ||i:k'  l.iir,   l',\  it.ki  i-,\(.i-.s.  oOl 

What  was  still  more  gratifyiii}^  to  tin-  doctor,  ilu-y  arrived, 
after  all,  in  time  for  her  to  attend  llic  '■:\-''  lo  a  successful 
issue. 

NlCiri'    W'OKK. 

Untiring  energ}-  and  unfailing  strength  are  surely  needed 
by  the  faithful  physician  who  responds  to  the  call  of  distress 
at  all  hours  of  the  night,  as  well  as  the  day — in  summer 
and  winter — in  storm  and  shine.  The  impatient  patient  and 
family  who  querulously  complain  that  "the  doctor  is  so 
slow,"  and  later,  perhaps,  at  the  bill,  little  realize  the  sacri- 
fice often  made  for  them  or  pause  to  think  that,  after  having 
been  hard  at  work  all  day,  the  doctor  is  often  called  from 
a  greatly  needed  rest,  out  of  a  warm  bed,  to  dress  in  haste, 
and  drive  five  or  ten  miles  into  the  country,  with  the  tem- 
perature very  near  zero^sometimes  below  that — and,  on  re- 
turning home,  must  attend  to  business  the  following  day, 
instead  of  taking  rest  and  sleep ;  very  likely  to  be  called  out 
the  next  night  also.  People  should  think  of  these  things, 
and  remember  that  the  least  they  can  do  is  to  pay  the 
doctor's  bill  cheerfully  and  as  promptl}-  as  possible.  Money 
often  cannot  pay  for  the  services  a  faithful,  efficient  physi- 
cian renders.  A  few  appreciate  this,  but  far  too  many 
do  not. 

The  following  true  experience  will  give  some  idea  of 
what  a  physician  not  infrequently  undergoes  in  a  rigorous 
climate.  In  any  climate  it  would  be  trying  enough.  Xot 
many  men  could  have  gone  through  it  unharmed,  but  Dr. 
Adair  was  equal  to  the  occasion. 

The  doctor  was  called  very  early  one  morning  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1903,  ten  miles  out  into  the  countr}-  to  attend  a  young 
lady  said  to  be  sick  with  a  serious  sore  throat.  On  arriving 
she  found  that  it  was  diphtheria  of  the  worst  type  and  that 
the  child  of  the  young  lady's  brother   (at  whose  house  she 


502  Dr.  Owexs  -  Adair. 

was  visiting  when  taken  ill)  was  then  lying  dead  in  the 
house.  Another  physician  had  been  called  the  night  before, 
and  had  pronounced  the  child's  disease  diphtheria.  It  had 
died  an  hour  after  he  left.  Dr.  Adair  immediately  tele- 
phoned the  health  officer  in  town  the  situation,  and  he,  re- 
plying, directed  her  to  allow  no  one  to  leave  the  house  until 
he  arrived.  He  came  that  afternoon,  disinfected  the  elder 
father,  an  aunt  and  an  elder  sister  of  the  patient,  that  they 
might  return  to  the  paternal  home,  and  removed  and  buried 
the  body  of  the  child.  Dr.  Adair,  meantime,  had  done  all 
that  could  be  done  for  the  young  lady,  though  she  told  the 
parents  frankly  that  it  would  be  nothing  short  of  a  miracle, 
if  she  recovered.  She  then  returned  home  and  attended  to 
her  office  business  and  usual  professional  calls.  At  seven 
o'clock  that  evening  she  received  a  message  by  telphone 
that  the  young  lady's  heart  was  failing,  and  she  must  come 
to  her  with  all  speed.  Ordering  her  horse  the  doctor  soon 
started  alone  on  that  long  ten-mile  drive,  in  a  heavy  snow- 
storm,  which  continued   all  the  way  out. 

On  arriving  at  the  bedside  of  the  sinking  patient  she  ad- 
ministered strychnia  hypodermically,  and  stimulant  and 
nourishment  by  enema,  which  brought  relief,  and  quiet  sleep 
to  the  sufferer.  Leaving  the  patient  comfortable,  the  doctor 
set  out  on  her  return  home.  The  snow  had  ceased,  and  the 
temperature  was  falling.  It  should  be  stated  that  she  was 
her  own  driver  and  made  her  professional  calls  night  and 
day  into  the  country  alone.  She  felt  no  fear,  and  knew 
that  few  men  could  excel  her  in  handling  a  horse.  She 
reached  home,  on  this  occasion,  between  13  and  1  a.  m., 
and  retired  directly  to  bed.  Between  1  and  2,  only  an  hour 
later,  she  was  -called  up  to  attend  a  case  in  town,  but  some 
distance  away.  She  again  ordered  her  horse  and  started 
out.  The  temperature  had  fallen  so  low  that  it  was  now 
the  coldest  night  of  the  season,  but  weather  of  any  sort 
never  kept  the  doctor  from  her  professional  duty. 


SoMi')  oi'-  Tfi'.K  T.iii':  E\i-Ki<iKxci:s.  .■)();{ 

After  .'itlciidint;'  to  this  case  she  rc'tiinicd  home  at  4  a.  m., 
two  hours  later,  and  sought  her  hed  a  second  time.  Soon 
after  6  she  was  np  and  had  a  lij^'ht  breakfast,  after  which 
she  ordered  a  horse  and  sleij^h  and  was  off  within  the  hour 
on  the  ten-mile  drive  to  visit  the  diphtheria  patient.  She 
found  her  apparently  much  better  from  the  restful  sleep  of 
the  night  before — the  best  nii^ht,  ihc-y  said,  that  she  had 
had  in  all  her  three  weeks'  illness.  The  doctor  then  returned 
home,  attended  to  her  office  patients,  and  answered  a  call 
into  the  country.  Returning^  from  this  call,  at  5  p.  m.,  she 
found  the  father  of  the  diphtheria  patient  waiting  with  a 
double  team  to  take  her  back  to  his  home,  eleven  miles  in 
another  direction,  as  his  youngest  daughter  was  also  taken 
with  a  sore  throat,  and  they  feared  it  was  diphtheria.  He 
added :  "After  you  have  prescribed  for  her,  there  will  be 
another  team  ready  to  take  you  the  ten  miles  farther  to  my 
son's,  where  you  iiiitst  stay  all  night,  doctor.  Money  is  no 
consideration  now !" 

She  found  the  youngest  daughter  was.  indeed,  coming 
down  with  the  same  dread  disease,  and  after  doing  all  that 
could  be  done  for  this  new  patient  she  was  driven  rapidly 
on  to  see  her  sister.  At  the  gate  they  were  met  by  the  son. 
"How  is  ]\Iaggie?"  were  the  doctor's  first  words; 

"She  seems  to  be  having  a  bad  spell,"  was  the  reply,  and 
the  doctor  hurried  on. 

At  the  door  the  unmistakable  sounds  of  dissolution  met 
her  ear  and  exclaiming,  "My  God,  she  is  dying!"  she  hur 
ried  to  the  bedside  to  render  what  aid  she  could,  well  know- 
ing that  all  would  soon  be  over  for  that  beautiful  and  be- 
loved young  girl. 

When  the  son's  wife  realized  that  her  favorite  sister-in- 
law  was  indeed  dying  she  •  was  seized  with  the  pains  of 
premature  labor.  The  mother  of  the  dying  girl  became 
frantic  with  grief.  All  three  demanded  immediate  atten- 
tion, and  as  there  was  no  other  woman  on  whom  she  could 


504  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

call  for  aid,  upon  the  doctor  fell  the  duties  of  both  nurse  and 
physician  for  them  all.  Will  any  one  have  the  effrontery 
to  assert  that  a  woman  physician  was  not  a  thousand-fold 
better  than  a  male  doctor  in  such  a  time  as  this  ?  Dr.  Adair, 
as  always,  was  equal  to  the  emergency.  Knowing  that  they 
had  been  watching  five  days  and  nights  without  sleep,  and 
were  completely  exhausted,  she.  first  administered  a  power- 
ful opiate  to  the  young  expectant  mother,  and  directed  her 
husband  to  take  her  upstairs  and  put  her  to  bed  at  once. 
This  he  did.  Then  giving  the  elder  mother  a  soothing 
potion,  and  leaving  her  somewhat  calmer,  she  again  turned 
her  attention  to  the  dying  girl,  who  soon  breathed  her  last. 
The  doctor  then  telephoned  to  the  health  officer  in  town 
to  come  out  and  remove  the  corpse  immediately.  He  replied 
that  it  was  impossible,  as  he  was  engaged  in  a  special  Elks' 
celebration,  and  could  not  then  leave,  but  would  come  out  in 
the  morning.  Dr.  Adair  insisted  on  his  coming  at  once,  and 
appealed  to  him  in  these  words :  "Doctor,  you  are  a  father 
yourself.  You  know  that  in  all  probability,  if  a  child  is 
ushered  into  this  infected  house,  both  mother  and  child  will 
never  go  out  of  it  alive.  Now  take  it  home  to  yourself.  I 
beg  of  you  to  come  and  take  the  corpse  out  of  the  house 
as  soon  as  possible." 

The  health  officer,  unable  to  resist  this  moving  appeal, 
yielded,  .and  said : 

"I  will  come  now  if  the  undertaker  will  come.  I  will  see 
him,  and  if  I  can  get  him  I  will  come." 

Dr.  Adair  then  called  up  the  undertaker  and  appealed  to 
him  in  similar  language.  He  replied  that  if  the  health  of- 
ficer would  come,  he  would  accompany  him.  The  doctor 
told  him  what  he  had  just  said  to  her.  "Very  well,"  said 
the  undertaker ;  "measure  the  corpse,  and  give  me  the  meas- 
urements, and  I  will  make  all  necessary  preparations,  and 
we  will  come  as  soon  as  we  can  possibly  get  there." 

This  she  did,  and  'phoned  to  the  health  officer  what  the 


So.Mi:  Ml'-  I  li:i<  I -III-:  lv\iM--,iui':Nn:s.  oO."; 

undertaker  had  said,  rc(|ucslin.i;-  liiiii  to  lei  her  know  when 
they  were  ready  to  start,  wliich  he  did,  and  adfk-d : 

"Shall  I  order  a  carriap^e  to  brinj:^  you  home?" 

"No,"  answered  the  (k)ctr)r.  "Do  you  think  I  would  leave 
this  house  tonight?  1  cannot  (U'sert  this  alllieted  family  in 
their  trouble." 

"Well,  but  you  will  be  quarantined,"  he  urged. 

"T  am  not  worrying  about  the  quarantine,"  she  responded. 
"I  want  you  to  get  out  here  and  disinfect  this  house  in  the 
shortest  possible  time."  , 

On  his  arrival  he  repeated : 

"Well,  you  are  in  quarantine,  Doctor." 

"I  will  not  remain  in  it.  though,"  she  retorted.  "I  have 
as  much  right  to  go,  with  proper  precautions,  as  you  have. 
Give  me  the  formaldehyde,  and  I  will  disinfect  m3-self  when 
1  am  ready  to  go." 

So  he  left  her  a  good  supply,  and  they  parted  good  friends, 
as  usual,  at  4  a.  m. 

Dr.  Adair  then  proceeded  to  disinfect  and  carry  out  into 
the  snow  all  the  infected  clothing,  and  set  the  house  in  order, 
as  she  then  felt  no  desire  for  sleep.  This  occupied  her  until 
G  a.  m..  when  she  heard  the  father  at  the  gate,  asking  after 
Maggie,  and  thus,  in  addition  to  all  she  had  gone  through, 
on  her  fell  that  hardest  of  all  tasks,  the  telling  him  that  his 
precious  daughter  was  dead,  and  buried. 

He  then  said :  "We  must  still  care  for  the  living.  You 
must  return  home  with  me  to  see  her  sister."     , 

So  they  started  for  another  eleven-mile  dri\e.  The  doc- 
tor found  this,  also,  a  well-defined  case  of  diphtheria.  From 
this  case  the  elder  (and  third)  sister,  the  aunt,  and  the  only 
remaining  grandchild,  all  contracted  the  terrible  malady, 
but  through  the  administration  of  antitoxin,  and  the  most 
faithful  attention  and  careful  nursing,  they  all  finally  re- 
covered. 

Thus,  during  sixtv  consecutive  hours.  Dr.  Adair,  then  in 


506  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

her  sixty-fifth  year,  accompHshed  an  ahiiost  incredible 
amount  of  labor,  under  great  mental  strain  (as  the  parties 
were  her  warm  personal  friends,  as  well  as  patients),  having 
traveled  in  that  time  over  one  hundred  miles,  with  but  two 
hours'  sleep,  out  of  the  whole  sixty  hours ;  yet  she  continued 
her  regular  practice  with  no  cessation,  and  without  extreme 
exhaustion — a  record  very  few  male  physicians,  if  any,  could 
equal,  and  surely  none  excel.  This  was  after  her  sixty-fourth 
year. 

LEGAL   COMMENDATION. 

1905. 

Dr.  Adair  never  takes  any  serious  step  unreflectingly,  but, 
always  thinks  out  her  subject  clearly  before  acting,  conse- 
quently her  statements  in  any  important  matter  are  concise, 
yet  comprehensive. 

In  cases  where  "she  has  been  called  upon  to  give  expert 
medical  testimony  in  court  she  is  always  commended  by 
legal  gentlemen  as  an  unusually  good  witness. 

Judge  Rudkin,  Superior  Judge  of  the  Yakima  District, — 
now  one  of  the  Supreme  Judges  of  the  State  of  Washing- 
ton,— after  hearing  her  testimony  in  a  case  of  infanticide 
tried  before  him,  said: 

"If  I  were  practicing  law,  I  would  give  Dr.  Adair  point- 
ers, and  have  her  for  an  expert  witness  in  all  my  cases." 

The  prosecuting  attorney  of  the  district  thanked  her 
warmly  for  her  evidence  on  the  same  occasion,  saying: 
"Your  testimony  was  just  what  I  wanted." 

Dr.  Adair  has  received  similar  commendations  and  com- 
pliments on  her  expert  testimony  in  similar  cases  in  Port- 
land, Oregon,  which  shows  how  much  her  strong  common 
sense  can  and  does  add  to  her  extensive  medical  and  surgical 
knowledge.  For  common  sense  (the  rarest  sense  in  the 
world)  is,  after  all,  the  foundation  of  all  law  and  equity,  and 
without  it  the  most  astute  display  of  legal  phraseology  only 
confuses  and  befogs  the  mind  of  the  average  juror. 


SoMi:  oi-  Ili;i<  I, 111';  l'".\ri'.uii;.\CES.  507 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

ADDRESS    OF    WKI-COMK   'I'O    Tiri':   STATl-:    W.    C.    T.    U.    OF    WASH- 
INGTON. 

l!v  Dk.  Owens-Adair. 
Madam  President,  Mr,  Mayor  and  Honored  Guests : 

We  are  here  to  greet  you,  as  you  come  from  your  various 
homes  and  fields  of  labor,  to  report  your  progress,  and  to 
enquire  as  to  ours ; — to  receive,  as  well  as  to  give  encourage- 
ment ; — and  it  is  my  pleasant  privilege,  in  the  name  of  the 
Medicg,l  Profession  of  the  State  of  Washington,  and  the 
City  of  North  Yakima  in  particular,  to  extend  to  you  a 
cordial  welcome.  We  offer  you  our  hospitality,  and  our 
hearty  sympathy  in  your  commendable  work;  and  we  shall 
be  glad,  in  our  turn,  of  the  uplift  we  expect  to  receive  from 
your  presence  among  us.  For,  though  we  believe  the  ad- 
vantages and  attractions  of  our  thriving  little  city  are  equal 
to  those  of  any  other  place  of  its  size,  we  have  to  admit  that 
there  is  great  room  for  improvement.  The  enemy  you  seek 
to  vanquish  has  a  foothold  here,  as  elsewhere,  and  he  is  not 
easily  dislodged. 

We  need  more  of  tlia^"  spirit  tersely  described  by  Presi- 
dent Roosevelt  as  "an  aggressive  spirit,  which  not  only  de- 
plores evil  and  corruption,  but  wars  against  it.  and  tramples 
it  under  foot." 

No  victory  of  value  is  lightly  won,  and  the  fight  against 
the  saloon  is  waged  against  invisible  foes,  without  and  with- 
in, as  well  as  with  their  material  manifestations, — a  combi- 
nation against  which  only  our  most  determined  efforts,  re- 
enforced  by  divine  aid,  can  prevail.  But.  my  sisters,  we 
shall  eventually  Avin. 

"To  doubt  would  be  disloyalty. 
To  falter  would  be  sin." 


508  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

I  speak  feelingly,  from  a  pungent  personal  experience, 
having  borne  my  part  in  the  fore-front  of  the  battle  in  our 
sister  state  of  Oregon,  thirty-five  years  ago;  and  having 
suffered  in  person  the  unspeakable  abuse  which  is,  in  itself, 
a  sure  indication  that  our  work  is  telling. 

Popular  opinion  was  by  no  means  with  us  then,  as  now. 
The  first  temperance  petition  ever  sent  to  an  Oregon  Legis- 
lature was  contemptuously  voted  to  be  "thrown  under  the 
table !" 

Liquor  sellers  and  their  families  were  then  received  in 
polite  society,  and  social  drinking  was  almost  universal. 
Declining  wine  at  dinners  and  banquets  was  considered  not 
only  as  an  indication  of  personal  fanaticism,  but  as  an  insult 
to  the  host  and  other  guests.  In  those  days  a  majority  of  the 
working  men  drank  hard  or  "moderately,"  and  employers 
expected  their  men  to  "go  on  a  spree,"  and  lose  one  or  two 
days  in  a  month,  if  not  in  every  week.  This  was  made  an 
excuse,  sometimes,  for  hiring  Chinamen,  who  never  drank, 
or  lost  a  day. 

I  well  remember  the  scenes  of  the  never-to-be-forgotten 
"Woman's  Crusade,"  as  they  occurred  in  Portland,  Oregon, 
about  1874. 

Some  of  you  may  recall  how  that  devoted  band  of  Chris- 
tian women,  comprising  members  of  the  most  refined  and 
influential  families  in  the  city,  marched  solemnly  through 
the  streets,  kneeling  on  the  foul  pavements  in  front  of  the 
worst  saloons,  amid  the  curious  and  ribald  throng,  praying, 
singing  hymns,  and  making  personal  appeals  to  the  liquor- 
sellers,  and  their  customers.  Sometimes,  on  going  inside  to 
plead  with  them,  they  were  met  with  insult,  and  told  to  "Go 
home,  and  mind  their  own  business." 

At  one  place,  while  the  white-haired  mothers  appealed  to 
the  bar-keeper,  with  drinking  and  gambling  going  on  all 
around  them,  one  impious  man  raised  his  glass  of  brandy, 
saying,  "Tliis  is  my  Christ,"  and  drank  it  down!    In  one  in- 


SoM  !•:  ( ii-  1 1  i;k  f . \  vv.  Iv.x  i'i;i< ii'.nces.  ">< m 

slancc,  li,i;lili'(l  iiialcln's  uiTc  thrown  amoiii^-  the  kneclinj^ 
women,  scttinj^'  iire  lo  the  skirt  of  one  lady,  ['"iiially  the 
climax  came,  when  the}-  were  all  arrested,  and  taken  to  the 
police  station,  at  tiie  instigation  of  a  prominent  liquor  man. 

And  then  there  was  hurrying  to  and  fro  among  fathers, 
husbands  and  sons^  for  the  speedy  release  of  those  most 
honored  and  dear  to  them. 

Many  sad  and  heart-rending  scenes  were  enacted  during 
those  exciting  times ;  and  some  had  their  amusing  side.  In 
some  of  the  smaller  towns,  the  dear  old  pioneer  mothers 
banded  together,  and  went  in  relays,  with  their  knitting  and 
sewing,  and  spent  the  day  in  the  saloons, — one  set  going  in 
the  forenoon,  another  relieving  them  at  noon,  and  remaining 
till  night,  then  a  third  band  took  their  places  till  closing  up 
time,  much  to  the  disgust  of  the  proprietors  and  their  cus- 
tomers. Some  of  these  dealers  poured  out  their  whiskey, 
shut  up  their  places,  and  joined  the  crusade.  Others  were 
defiant,  and  not  to  be  "intimidated  by  women  and  their  de- 
vices." 

The  mother  heart  was  aroused,  as  never  before,  and  mul- 
titudes of  delicate  and  timid  women  threw  themselves  into 
the  excitement  of  the  hour,  determined  to  rid  the  country 
of  this  giant  evil.  But  they  soon  realized  that  the  victory 
was  not  to  be  won  in  a  day,  and  settled  down  to  a  steadier, 
but  no  less  determined  effort.  Out  of  that  tempestuous 
crusade  was  evolved  the  beneficent,  white-winged  army- 
known  as  "The  Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union," 
which  has  for  }ears  waged  the  most  powerful  and  effective 
war  on  intemperance,  and  kindred  evils.  Years  ago  our  own 
beloved  Francis  \Mllard  clasped  hands  with  Lady  Somer- 
set, across  the  broad  Atlantic  Ocean,  and  now  the  tiny  white 
ribbon  flutters  on  the  bosoms  of  hundreds  of  thousands  of 
earnest  women,  devoted  to  our  holy  cause. 

Say  you  that  all  this  has  been  in  vain  ?  No,  no !  A  thou- 
sand times  no  I 


510  Dr.  Owexs  -  Adair. 

You  have  but  to  compare  the  conditions  of  thirty  to  forty 
years  ago  with  those  of  today  to  reaUze  the  great  good  ac- 
compHshed. 

How  is  it  today?  The  Salvation  Army,  and  other  out-of- 
door  evangehstic  organizations,  are  now  accepted  with 
thankful  appreciation,  whereas,  in  those  days,  they  were 
abused,  and  even  stoned. 

It  is  a  matter  of  common  knowledge  that  no  railroad 
company  in  the  United  States  will  now  employ  a  man  who 
drinks  intoxicants,  or  even  frequents  a  saloon ;  and  all  the 
large  railroads  are  establishing  Young  Men's  Christian  As- 
sociations and  reading  rooms  for  their  men,  at  their  own  ex- 
pense. Other  responsible  business  establishments  are  falling 
into  line,  and  refusing  to  employ  drunkards  and  gamblers. 
Their  prohibition  prohibits;  and  no  complaint  is  heard  from 
their  employes  of  any  interference  with  their  "personal  lib- 
ety." 

Social  drinking  has  largely  ceased. 

^\'Iost  fraternal  societies  exclude  saloon-keepers  and  their 
families  from  membership ;  and  drinking  places  are  being 
forbidden  the  most  desirable  streets,  as  on  our  own  beau- 
tiful Yakima  avenue ;  and,  in  time,  our  progressive  and  ag- 
gressive public  sentiment  will  demand  that  the  sale  of  in- 
toxicants, as  a  beverage,  must  cease. 

Mothers  of  sons  and  daughters,  the  love  and  loyalty  to 
truth  and  purity  that  has  burned  so  brightly  in  your  breasts 
all  these  years,  has  borne  grand  fruit  in  this  new  generation 
of  the  twentieth  century,  richer  in  that  same  Heaven-born 
love  of  Freedom  and  Righteousness,  than  any  gone  before 
it !  Witness,  in  additional  proof  of  this,  the  place  woman 
now  takes,  unrebuked, — nay,  welcomed,  beside  her  brother. 
In  all  the  walks  of  life,  she  is  his  equal  partner,  in  business, 
as  well  as  in  pleasure ;  and  in  some  sections  of  our  country, 
in  the  administration  of  the  law,  through  the  exercise  of  the 
ballot.    Nor  have  the  breaking  of  family  ties,  or  the  destruc- 


SoMK  OK  1Ii;n  Lifk  Exi'kkiences.  ''11 

lion  of  \voiii;iiil\  modesty,  oi'  manly  chivalry,  in  any  instance 
resulted  there  from. 

M<^i'c  especially  on  hehalf  of  the  Medical  Fraternity,  whom 
I  have  the  li(~)nor,  on  this  occasion,  to  represent,  I  give  you 
God-s])ec(l.  Your  work  and  ours  should  go  hanfl  in  hand. 
"A  sound  mind  in  a  sound  body,"  is  the  ideal  of  the  highest 
mortal  perfeclif)n.  Our  province  is  the  physical  and  mental, 
as  yourvS  is,  the  spiritual.  To  aid  in  restoring,  and  main- 
taining, by  the  best  known  methods,  the  highest  health  of 
all  three,  is  your  mission,  and  ours. 

We  physicians,  particularly,  welcome  all  efforts  to  in- 
crease the  general  intelligence,  and  educate  the  general 
conscience,  since  the  lack  of  these,  in  the  nurse,  so  often 
defeats  our  best  endeavors. 

The  progress  and^  prosperity  of  the  commonwealth  is 
identical  with  that  of  our  profession,  and  no  person  will 
rejoice  more  heartily  at  all  indications  of  improvement  than 
the  physician. 

I  trust  your  sojourn  among  us  will  be  as  profitable  to  you 
as  it  has  been  profitable  to  us. 

Again  we  thank  you  for  your  good  work,  at  home  and 
abroad,  and  for  the  compliment  of  your  presence  among  us. 

ADDRESS    OF    TRESENTATIOX. 

1904. 
Worthy  Past  Matron : 

In  the  name  of  Syringa  Chapter  No.  38,  I  have  the  honor 
of  presenting  you  with  this  jewel,  as  a  slight  token  of  our 
appreciation  of  the  faithful  and  impartial  services  you  have 
rendered  us  as  first  officer  of  our  Chapter  during  the  last 
year. 

Take  it,  my  beloved  sister,  and  wear  it  upon  your  bosom 
nearest  your  heart,  for  our  sakes.  It  will  there  shine  and 
sparkle,  for  your  honor,  and  for  ours,  where,  through  its 
brilliant  scintillations,  it  will  remind  our  ctTeat  sisterhood  of 


51'i  Dr.  OwExs  -  Adair. 

the  noble  deeds  of  our  ancient  heroines,  Adah,  Ruth,  Esther, 
^lartha,  and  Electa. 

RESPONSE   TO   THE   TOAST  :     "tIIE   EASTERN   STAR   IS  THE  TRUE 
HOME  OF  THE  MASONS." 

The  key  of  this  sentiment  is  "Home."  The  home  is  of 
Divine  origin.  The  very  name  sends  a  thrill  to  every  loyal 
heart.  The  ideal  home  is  foimd  only  in  the  family  circle ; 
around  the  hearthstone,  where  the  love  and  loyalty  of  hus- 
band, wife  and  children  reign  supreme,  and  give  us  a  glimpse 
of  the  home  beyond. 

Such  a  home  can  only  come  of  the  union  of  the  sexes. 
From  this  union,  conies  the  nation,  and  the  rise  and  fall  of 
the  nation  depend  upon  the  foundation  stone  of  the  home. 

It  has  been  said  that  "The  hand  that  rocks  the  cradle,  is 
the  hand  th^t  moves  the  world."  Woman,  therefore,  is  an 
essential  element  in  both  the  home  and  the  nation. 

To  appreciate  the  true  worth  of  home,  in  its  broadest 
sense,  you  should  travel,  for  a  time,  in  a  foreign  country, 
where  you  see  only  strange  faces,  and  hear  strange  voices 
and  tongues.  At  last  you  come  to  a  harbor,  where  the  ships 
of  all  nations  are  anchored ;  and  there,  floating  in  the  breeze, 
you  behold  the  emblem  of  your  own  country.  The  sight  of 
the  Star  Spangled  Banner  quickens  your  heart-throbs,  and 
you  give  vent  to  your  pent-up  patriotism  in  exclamations  of, 
"]\I}-  Country,  oh,  my  Country !"  "Sweet  Land  of  Liberty, 
thy  name  I  love."  And  you  will  find  yourself  repeating  over 
and  over,  "Home,  home,  sweet,  sweet  home." 

The  Masonic  order,  great  and  grand  as  it  is,  had  first 
only  a  bachelor's  home,  which  is  but  half  a  home,  until  the 
Eastern  Star  opened  her  doors,  and  invited  her  brothers  to 
come  and  abide  with  her. 

The  Eastern  Star  possesses  all  the  essential  elements  of 
an  ideal  home.  Here  you  find  the  father,  mother,  husband, 
wife,  sister  and  brother,  all  united  in  one  grand,  fraternal 


So.Mi:  (ii    i  li:i<  I^iM',  lv\('i'.i<ii'..\(  i„s.  ~)V.i 

fellowship,  and  all  strivinj^  for  one  jj^reat  purpose, — that  of 
the  upliftiiifj;'  of  liiinianity,  thronj^h  the  home  and  the  nation. 
And  now,  my  brothers,  one  and  all,  in  the  name  of 
Syringa  Chapter,  I  bid  you  welcome  to  our  home.  The 
latch-string"  you  will  find  at  the  outer  door,  and  a  welcome 
within. 

ADDRILSS   REFORIi:  THE   "EASTERN   STAR." 

Brothers  and  Sisters: 

I  have  been  rcciuested  to  say  something  for  the  good  of 
the  order,  and  as  I  cannot  express  myself  extemporaneously, 
I  have  just  jotted  down  a  few  thoughts. 

The  first  thing,  to  put  it  logically,  is  to  have  an  order ; 
and  the  next,  and  far  more  important  thing,  is  to  sup- 
port it. 

We  have  an  order,  and  I  think  I  know  whereof  I  speak, 
as  I  have  an  opportunity  of  judging",  when  I  say  that  the 
Eastern  Star  is  the  Queen  Bee  of  all  the  other  orders, 
social  and  otherwise. 

And  now,  what  is  our  duty  ?  And  what  can  we  do  for  the 
good  of  our  chapter? 

Our  worthy  sister  from  Portland,  at  our  banquet  said: 
"You  must  stand  by  your  ofiicers."  And  I  ask  you,  "What 
can  the  officers  do  without  the  support  of  the  members?" 
I  answer,  "Nothing." 

What  could  our  immortal  Washington  have  done  with- 
out the  support  of  the  determined  band  of  men  and  women 
who,  in  their  poverty,  never  once  thought  of  deserting  him, 
but  through  long  months  and  years  of  anxiety  and  strug- 
gle, never  once  showed  the  "white  feather"  ?  And  from 
those  first  faithful  thirteen  stars  and  stripes  has  come  the 
greatest  nation  on  this  broad  earth.  What  could  our 
martyred  Lincoln  have  done  in  holding  together  our  glorious 
union,  without  the  aid  of  his  loyal  Cabinet  and  Congress? 
^^'hat  could  our  Dewev  have  done  without  his  men  behind 


514  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

the  guns?  What  can  any  general  do  without  his  trained 
lieutenants,  and  his  faithful  and  obedient  soldiers  at  his 
back?  And  what  can  our  worthy  matron  do  without  her 
assistants,  and  the  still  more  important  loyal  support  of  the 
members  of  this  chapter? 

We  have  placed  her  in  the  East,  and  have  pledged  her 
our  support.  She  has  the  advantages  of  youth,  education, 
and  charming  manners.  She  is  worthy  in  every  way  of 
the  high  position  we  have  given  her.  Therefore,  our  duty 
is  plain.  One  word  will  cover  it  all,  and  that  word  is 
"loyalty." 

And  what  shall  I  say  of  our  worthy  patron?  He  needs 
no  encomiums  from  me.  He  has  served  us  before,  and  he 
will  serve  us  again  with  honor.  I  now  turn  my  eyes  toward 
the  west,  and  there  I  see  a  bright  and  brilliant  star  in  the 
ascendency.  Our  records  are  in  the  hands  of  an  honorable 
and  tried  expert.  Our  cash  is  as  safe  as  if  it  were  in  the 
bank  of  the  United  States. 

The  five  points  of  our  star  are  yet  in  bud,  but  ere  long 
they  will  open  out  in  full  bloom.  Then  their  combination 
of  beautiful  colors  will  attract  and  charm  all  beholders. 

Our  conductress  and  marshal,  upon  whom  so  much  de- 
pends, I  am  confident,  will  not  be  found  wanting  in  their 
duty. 

Our  doors  are  securely  protected  by  competent  and  trusty 
guards.  You  have  chosen  a  worthy  set  of  officers  (not  in- 
cluding the  speaker),  who,  I  have  faith,  will  successfully 
navigate  this  ship  through  pleasant  channels  (avoiding  Rus- 
sia and  Japan),  and  will  bring  her  into  a  harbor  of  unity, 
beauty,  and  prosperity. 


Soivii'-,  OK  IIkk  LiKi'-.  l'^M'i:i<ii,.\(  Ks.  515 

FAVORS  USE  OF   KNIFK.      PHYSICIAN   RliCOM MENUS  OPERATION 
FOR  DEFECTIVES.     MEANS   CHANCE  OF   RECOVERY   FOR   UN- 
FORTUNATES THEMSELVES.      PREVENTS  THE  PRO- 
CREATION  OF   UNFIT   CHILDRFN. 

North  Yakima,  Wash.,  March  11th,  1905.— (To  the 
Editor.) — I  have  been  much  interested  always  in  the  prob- 
lem of  race  improvement,  and  especially  of  late  in  the  dis- 
cussion in  your  invaluable  paper,  on  the  humanity,  or  inhu- 
manity of  sparing,  or  cutting  off  at  birth,  the  lives  of  physi- 
cal and  mental  defectives. 

However  strongly  I  might  believe  that  the  death,  at  birth, 
of  all  such  would  be  the  best  for  them  and  humanity,  I 
could  never  accept  the  solemn  responsibility  of  taking  a 
human  life,  and  I  am  persuaded  that  it  is  a  power  not  to 
be  safely  or  properly  entrusted  to  any  private  human  judg- 
ment. 

And  yet  the  human  race  should,  and  could  be  largely 
protected  from  monstrosities  and  deadly  diseases  without 
resort  to  the  taking  of  life.  Certainly  parents  should  think 
and  live  rightly.  This  course,  in  time,  through  generations 
of  parents,  would  doubtless  produce  a  race  very  near  to 
physical  and  mental  perfection ;  but  at  present,  unfavorable 
ancestral  influences  are  too  strong  for  one  right-living  pair 
to  more  than  partially  overcome  them ;  therefore,  it  is  not 
wholly  within  the  control  of  parents  to  produce  just  the 
kind  of  children  they  desire.  If  it  were,  we  should  soon 
have  a  whole  race  of  Roosevelts,  Willards,  and  Shakes- 
peares, — a  condition  delightful  to  contemplate,  but,  I  fear, 
still  far  in  the  future. 

Here  is  a  case  in  point,  which  occurred  recently  in  my 
own  practice,  of  a  handsome  young  Scotchman,  full  of  life 
and  health,  with  a  beautiful  young  American  wife — ages  27 
and  24 — (the  most  vigorous  time  of  life,  according  to  Dr. 
Osier).  This  happy  young  couple  of  eighteen  months' 
wedded  life  were  looking  forward,  wath  joyful  anticipation, 


51 G  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

to  the  stork's  visit  to  their  home.  In  time  he  came,  and 
brought  a  poor,  frail,  six-pound  babe,  with  an  unnaturally 
long-  neck,  and  an  abnormal  growth  of  the  size  of  a  hen's 
egg  on  each  side  of  its  throat.  Can  you  attach  any  blame 
to  tliese  healthy,  right-living,  offspring-desiring  parents? 
No,  for  it  would  be  palpable  injustice.  Should  I  have  killed 
that  child?     No,  a  thousand  times  no. 

Besides,  who  can  tell  at  the  child's  birth  whether,  though 
seriously  handicapped  physically,  it  may  not  become  a 
power  in,  and  a  blessing  to  the  world?  For  instance,  Alex- 
ander Pope,  Lord  Byron,  the  present  Emperor  of  Germany, 
and,  to  come  near  home,  our  own  able  historian,  and  man 
of  letters.  Professor  H.  S.  Lyman,  all  physically  imperfect 
at  birth,  might  have  come  under  the  proposed  plan  of  ex- 
termination. , 

That  we  have  not  complete  control  of  the  situation,  how- 
ever, is  no  reason  why  we  should  not  use  our  best  efforts 
by  right  thinking  and  living,  to  have  our  children,  so  far 
as  our  power  and  responsibility  go,  well-born. 

This  is  a  deep  and  serious  subject,  and  one  too  great  to 
cope  with  in  its  entirety,  yet,  I  repeat,  much  can  and  should 
be  done.  Some  of  the  worst  ills  to  which  humanity  is  heir, 
such  as  insanity,  epilepsy  and  cancer,  are  almost  certainly 
transmitted  by  the  immediate  progenitors. 

The  greatest  curse  of  the  race  comes  through  our  vicious 
and  criminal  classes,  and  to  my  mind  this  is  the  element 
that  should  be  dealt  with — not  by  chloroform  or  strangula- 
tion, but  by  the  science  of  surgery,  for  if  their  power  to 
reproduce  themselves  were  rendered  null,  a  tremendous  im- 
portant step  in  advance  would  have  been  taken,  not  only 
without  injury  to  life,  but  often  with  positive  benefit  to 
the  victims  themselves. 

Over  twenty  years  ago  I  visited  our  State  Insane  Asylum 
at  Salem.  My  friend.  Dr.  R.,  then  in  charge,  received  me 
graciously,  and  conducted  me  through  the  various  wards. 
On  our  way  from  the  wards  back  to  luncheon  I  said : 


SoMic  oi'  rii:k  Liii'.  IC\'i'i:i<ii;.\cri:s.  517 

"Doclor,  (his  is  a  li()ii'il)lc  |)liasc  ot  life;  and  when  is 
it  to  end?" 

"T   do   no!    know.     It   is  hard   to   Irll,"  he   replied. 

"It"  I  had  the  power,"  I  coiiiiinicd,  "I  wonld  rurlail  it; 
for  T  would  see  to  it  that  nul  (nir  mF  this  class  should  ever 
be  permitted  to  curse  the  world   with  offspring." 

He  stared  at  me,  and  finally  said:  "Would  you  advo- 
cate that  method?" 

"I  certainly  should,  if  I  were  not  a  woman,  and  a  woman 
M.  D.,  to  whom,  at  this  day  and  age,  I  know  too  well  it 
would  simply  mean  ostracism,"  I  answered. 

"Well,  Doctor,"  he  rejoined,  "I  beg  you  not  to  mention 
this  subject  to  my  wife,  tor  she  would  be  shocked  and  hor- 
rified." 

"I  shall  not  mention  it  to  your  wife,"  I  assured  him.  "but 
I  want  to  tell  you  right  here  that  if  I  were  in  control  of 
this  institution,  as  you  are.  I  would  at  least  give  many  of 
these  pitiable  unfortunates  the  one  chance  of  recovery 
through  a  surgical  operation,  which  might  restore  their 
reason.  You  know,  Doctor,  as  well  as  I  do,  that  hysteria 
and  insanity  are  often  due  to  diseased  reproductive  organs. 
Think  of  these  loathesome  victims  of  an  unnamable  vice 
under  your  charge.  It  would  be  nothing  less  than  com- 
mon humanity  to  relieve  them  of  the  source  of  their  curse 
and  destruction  by  a  simple  surgical  operation  that  might 
give  them  a  chance  to  recover  their  reason." 

Eight  or  ten  years  since,  in  a  conversation  with  an 
eminent  attorney  concerning  a  mutual  friend  and  near 
neighbor,  whose  wife  had  recently  called  upon  this  attor- 
ney at  dead  of  night  to  protect  her  and  her  children  from 
her  husband,  who  had  for  the  second  time  become  sud- 
denly insane,  he  said  to  me :  "This  is  terrible ;  but  who 
would  have  thought  of  that  level-headed  business  man  going 
insane?" 

I   responded :      "Remember   we   know   it  is   in  his   blood. 


518  Dr.  C)\\exs  -  Adair. 

by  family  inheritance.  And  now  I  am  going  to  say  what 
will  shock  you,  which  is  that  every  person  admitted  into 
an  insane  asylum  should  be  so  dealt  with  as  to  preculde  re- 
production." 

Instantly  and  warmly  he  exclaimed :  "I  sanction  that, 
and  I  will  go  farther,  by  including  every  criminal  that  goes 
through  the  penitentiary  doors." 

Thereupon  we  shook  hands  on  it,  then  and  there,  feeling 
sure  that  the  time  would  come  when  the  commonwealth, 
forced  to  grapple  with  this  vital  subject,  would  be  able  to 
adopt  these  measures  with  the  full  assent  of  a  majority  of 

its  citizens. 

AIrs.  Ovvens-Adair. 
North  Yakima,  Wash.,  March  28,  1905. 

My  Dear  Beloved  Miss  Anthony :  I  see  by  today's  Ore- 
gonian  that  you  may  come  to  our  great  Lewis  and  Clark 
Centennial,  and  my  heart  responded  with  a  strong  throb 
of  pleasure  at  the  thought  of  again  seeing  you. 

Can  you  recall  me,  my  friend,  among  your  many  thou- 
sand special  friends?  Yes,  I  think  you  will,  when  I  remind 
you  that  I  am  that  little  Roseburg  milliner  to  whom  you 
wrote  November  15,  1871,  by  the  advice  of  Mrs.  Duniway, 
to  secure  you  a  lecture  room  and  audience ;  how  I  engaged 
the  largest  of  the  three  churches  then  in  town,  and,  through 
posting  bills,  and  house-to-house  work,  got  out  a  good  au- 
dience. 

And  do  you  recall  how,  as  we  passed  the  McClellan  Hotel, 
we  heard  the  sound  of  the  "fiddle"  at  a  free  dance,  gotten 
up  purposely  to  detract  from  your  lecture? 

Ah,  how  well  I  remember  your  visit  with  me  in  every 
detail.  I  can  see  you  now,  in  the  strength  of  your  vigorous 
womanhood,  as  you  finished  your  toilet  before  a  bright 
wood  fire  in  my  little  sitting-room,  while  I  prepared  the 
breakfast,   with  the  door  open  between  us.     How  we  did 


.  Some  o I'  lli.u  Lifk  I'^xi-kkiknces.  519 

talk!  For,  as  you  said,  "The  stage  will  start  in  two  hours, 
and  we  have  so  littje  time,  and  so  much  to  say.." 

Those  were  days  that  tried  women's  souls.  I  was  then 
taking  your  little  paper,  the  Revolution,  and  after  I  had 
read  it  1  would  send  it  to  a  lady  in  the  country,  who  was 
a  leader  in  her  community. 

The  next  time  I  saw  you  was  at  the  Woman's  Congress 
in  Portland,  Oregon.  I  called  on  you  at  Mrs.  Duni way's, 
and  you  asked  mc :  "Who  is  this?"  I  said:  "Think  a  mo- 
ment." 

You  looked  keenly  at  me  and  exclaimed :  "Yes,  you  are 
the  Roseburg  milliner,  but  not  a  milliner  now,  but  an 
M.  D.'" 

I  replied :  "Yes,  and  there  will  be  no  more  rotten  eggs ; 
no  vile  epithets ;  no  opposition  dance  for  us  now.  Crowds 
will  flock  to  hear  the  honored  Miss  Anthony." 

A  few  evenings  later  at  one  of  your  receptions  I  saw  a 
beautiful  young  girl  gazing  at  you  intently  and  said  to  her : 
"Kiss  Miss  Anthony,  my  dear,  for  she  is  one  of  the  greatest 
women  the  world  has  ever  produced." 

"May  I  kiss  her?"  she  eagerly  asked. 

"Surely  you  may,"  and  I  led  her  forward.  "Miss  Anthony, 
may  I  kiss  you?"  she  timidly  asked.  You  reached  out  your 
hand  to  her,  and  as  she  stooped  and  kissed  you  I  saw  tears 
sparkling  in  your  eyes.  If  death  has  not  claimed  that  sweet 
young  girl  she  has  long  since  blossomed  into  womanhood 
and  has  taught  her  children  to  honor  and  bless  your  well- 
beloved  name 

Now,  my  dear  and  honored  friend,  do  come  to  see  and 
delight  us  with  your  presence.  Oregon  needs  you.  Our 
whole  broad  state  is  your  home.  Friends  and  physicians 
of  your  own  m.aking  will  stand  proudly  by  your  side  and 
ascribe  to  you  praise. 

The  old  stagecoaches  and  lumbering  wagons  that  plowed 
through  the  mud  and  rattled  and  jolted  us  over  rocks,  roots, 
ruts  and  logs  in  the. past,  bringing  us  health,  strength  and 


520  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

vigor  at  the  same  time  and  preparing  us  for  the  hard  work 
before  us,  have  given  place  to  the  palace  car,  which  can 
bring  you  to  us  with  comfort  and  pleasure,  and  I  believe 
the  trip  will  "give  you  a  new  lease  of  life"  in  renewed 
health  and  strength. 

J\ly  beloved  mother  is  now  in  her  eighty-eighth  year,  and 
last  fall  she  took  a  sea  voyage  of  three  hundred  miles,  stood 
the  trip  well  and  was  benefited  by  the  trij)  and  the  change. 
She  intends  to  return  to  Portland  in  June  to  visit  our  great 
fair.  Last  summer  she  walked  five  miles  in  one  day  several 
times. 

I  am  now  in  my  sixty-sixth  year,  am  still  in  active  prac- 
tice, and  am  strong  and  well.  I  often  drive  fifteen  or  twenty 
miles  into  the  country.  I  handle  my  horse  today  as  well 
as  I  did  twenty-five  years  ago.  Not  long  ago  I  drove  in 
from   the   country,   fifteen   miles,   alone,   reaching   home   at 

2  A.   M. 

You  and  I  have  had  the  advantage  of  not  having  been 
reared  "in  the  lap  of  luxury."  The  hard  battles  we  have 
fought  give  us  strength  and  increased  longevity. 

I  inclose  a  clipping  from  the  Portland  Oregonian,  which 
I  believe  you  will  indorse.  I  have  received  many  congrat- 
ulatory commendations  for  my  "heroic"  letter.  One  old  M. 
D.  wrote  that  he  "had  for  many  years  rested  in  the  belief 
that  God's  reserved  force  to  reform  the  world  is  woman," 
and  that  he  is  "glad  to  have  read  the  public  enunciation  of 
such  views  from  a  woman."  And  I  must  tell  you,  my  dear 
friend,  that  I  have  waited  twenty-five  years  to  give  public 
expression  to  my  views  on  this  subject,  and  now  seemed 
the  first  fitting  time  for  it. 

And   now,   my   dear   friend,    I   bid   you   adieu,   with   the 
earnest  hope  that  I  may  have  the  extreme  pleasure  of  taking 
}-ou  by  the  hand  at  our  great  convention  this  summer. 
Sincerely  and  fraternally  yours. 

Dr.  B.  a.  Owens-Adair. 


SoMi'.  oi'   lli'.K  LiM';  Iv\im;uiknce.s.  ^'Zi 

MARRIAGI':  AND  DIVOUCE — KVILS  OV  I.KCiAI,  .Si:i'AI<AII(;X  SHOULD 
BE    RESTKICIi:!)    I!Y     I, AW. 

Norlh    V.-ikiin;i.   Wash..   May  r,.   ]H95. 

To  the  iMlilor:  T  have  watched  with  si)ecial  interest  the 
controversy  on  llu-  divorce  (iiu'slictn,  which  has  Ix-cn  going 
on  for  more  than  a  year,  first  taken  up  by  the  Episcopal 
Church  and  now  generally  participated  in  by  other  churches. 
That  the  frequency  of  divorce  has  brought  disrepute  and 
scandal  on  our  nation  is  acknowledged  and  deplorcfl  by  all. 
But  how  to  jircvent  it  is  the  question.  To  say  that  God 
sanctions  all  marriages  that  record  their  vows  before  the 
pulpit  and  receive  the  blessing  of  the  minister  is  simply 
absurd,  as  hundreds  of  thousands  of  unhappy  marriages 
will  affirm,  while  many  happy  marriages,  and  affectionate 
and  honorable  families  have  had  their  origin  from  vows 
given  before  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  whose  breath,  at  the 
time,  ma}-  have  savored  of  bad  ^vhi5ky  and  tobacco.  (I  do 
not  wish  here  to  be  understood  as  placing  the  civil  ceremony 
on  a  level  with  the  religious  marriage  service,  which  I  ap- 
prove, and  personally  prefer.) 

To  my  mind  the  success  of  the  marriage  relation  depends 
upon  the  disposition,  education  and  sterling  principles  of 
the  contracting  jiarties — not  upon  one,  but  upon  all,  i.  e., 
where  those  conditions  may  be  made  to  blend,  through  the 
power  of  the  affections — love.  Then  we  can  say:  "What 
God  hath  joined  let  no  man  put  asunder.''  \\'e  have  this 
illustrated  day  in  and  day  out,  especially  in  these  times 
of  fast  living,  when  the  electric  spark  seems  to  move  the 
world.  How  long  can  we  continue  along  these  lines  ?  Every 
day  brings  to  light  some  great  discovery,  or  the  accomplish- 
ment of  some  startling  feat,  each,  in  turn,  to  live,  to  thrive, 
to  blossom  for  a  time ;  then  to  be  crowded  back,  to  prove 
its  worth  or  be  lost  in  oblivion.  But  not  so  with  marriage 
and  divorce.    Like  the  poor,  they  are  "always  with  us." 

As  a  nation  we  should  be,  and  are,  striving  to  improve 


522  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

the  marriage  relation,  realizing-,  as  we  do,  that  the  home 
is  the  foundation  of  our  Government.  The  essentials  of  a 
home  are  love,  honesty,  loyalty.  With  the  American  people 
to  decide  is  to  act,  and  to  act  is  to  accomplish ;  and  I  have 
faith  to  believe  that  we  shall  find  a  way  out  of  this  national 
affliction,  which  seems  to  have  become  a  veritable  contagion, 
attacking  rich  and  poor,  high  and  low  alike,  and  which 
should  be  met  with  stringent  measures  and  remedies.  A 
divorce  no  longer  carries  with  it  the  stigma  of  disgrace 
that  it  did  thirty  or  forty  years  ago,  which  required  a  life- 
long struggle  to  overcome.  The  most  disgraceful  feature 
of  these  modern  divorces  is  that,  in  the  majority  of  the 
cases,  it  can  be  proved  that  one,  and  sometimes  both  of  the 
parties,  contract  new  engagements  of  marriage  before  hav- 
ing even  made  application  for  separation  from  the  old  rela- 
tion. Sunday's  Oregonian  tells  us  of  a  courtship  of  three 
days,  a  marriage  of  three  days,  and  a  suit  for  divorce  filed 
on  the  sixth  day!  The  newspapers  are  flooded  with  sim- 
ilar cases,  until  they  cease  to  shock  us,  proving  the  truth 
of  what  the  poet  says :  "We  first  endure,  then  pity,  then 
embrace." 

A  halt  must  be  called.  The  people  will  find  a  way  to 
check  this  great  evil.  The  churches  are  laboring  with  the 
question,  while  the  courts  are  grinding  out  divorces  by  the 
thousands,  and  the  ministers  and  all  others  having  authority 
are  equally  busy  in  joining  people  together  in  "holy  mat- 
rimony." (  ?)  The  press — the  great  educator  of  the  world 
— is  performing  its  part  by  giving  publicity  to  all  sides. 

As  a  free  and  independent  nation  our  laws  must  be 
sanctioned  and  upheld  by  public  opinion,  and  with  divorce, 
as  with  other  evils,  we  should  have  stringent  regulating 
laws ;  but  to  enforce  these  laws  the  people  must  be  educated 
up  to  a  recognition  of  their  value. 

In  my  opinion  we  should  have  laws  forbidding  the  re- 
marriage of  any  divorced  person  under  five  or  ten  years 


SoAii':  <)i''  II|':k  LiM',  Mm'I-.kiivNCK.s,  O^o 

after  their  divorce  was  ohlaiiicd.  'I'liis  wonlfi  effectually 
cut  off  outside  love-making',  and  future  niatriinonial  en- 
gagements during  married  life.  L'ive  or  ten  years'  proba- 
tion would  act  as  an  ice  l)atli  in  cooling  off  a  good  deal  of 
lovesick,  sentimental  passion,  anrl  would  bring  many  of  its 
victims  to  a  wholesome  sense  of  their  manlirjod  an'l  woman- 
hood, and  woidd  enal^le  thcni  lo  live  more  upright  and  clean 
lives.  I  believe  in  divorce  for  [)roper  cause.  I  do  not  Ijelieve 
that  people  should  be  forced  to  bear  and  rear  children  in 
au' unholy  union.  Proof  of  the  wisdom  of  this  can  be  iovmd 
in  the  Oregonian,  telling  of  the  shooting  of  his  brutal  father 
by  the  18-year-old  son,  Tom  I>rown,  in  Chehalis,  Wash. 
Such  occiUTcnces  speak  more  i)Owerful1y  than  words. 


)-2l  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 


North  Yakima,  Wash.,  September  28,  1905. 

To  the  Editor :  I  read  the  "She-Pope  of  Milliners," 
]\Iadame  Hunt's  tirade  on  "Bare  Heads  on  the  Streets"  (in 
the  Oregonian  of  recent  date),  which  she  chooses  to  call 
indecent.  Who,  forsooth,  is  this  president  of  the  national 
milliners'  convention,  who  declares  war  on  a  great  army 
of  women  who  choose  to  appear  on  the  streets,  to  walk  or 
ride,  with  uncovered  heads?  I  admit  that  an}^  person  has 
the  right  to  improve  and  protect  his  business,  but  he  has 
no  right  to  wage  war  on  the  community  by  so  doing.  The 
madame  may  "sigh"  and  "shudder"  and  be  "horrified"  and 
perhaps  suffer  an  attack  of  hysteria  from  coming  in  con- 
tact with  a  bare-headed  woman  on  the  street  or  in  the  store, 
but  "war,  and  no  compromise"  is  a  declaration  that  will  be 
resented  by  the  average  American  woman,  who  is  fast  be- 
coming mistress  of  her  own  ideas.  The  woman  that  charms 
the  world  today  is  the  woman  of  courage,  of  original  and 
independent  character ;  not  a  bundle  of  dry  goods  and 
millinery.  She  can  select  a  hat  to  her  taste,  and  she  can, 
and  will,  go  bareheaded,  if  she  choose  to  do  so.  If  she 
wishes  her  hair  to  have  a  sun  bath,  or  to  have  the  soft 
breezes  fan  her  scalp  or  play  with  her  silken  tresses,  why 
should  she  be  denied  that  pleasure?  Poets  have  raved  over 
the  wealth  and  beauty  of  woman's  hair. 

Every  woman  should  retain  her  good  looks  as  long  as 
possible.  Ine  loss  of  the  hair  is  a  grief  to  any  person. 
Baldness,  which  is  so  prevalent  among  men,  is  due,  prin- 
cipally, ■  to  their  headgear.  Proof  of  this  can  be  found 
among  the  natives  and  all  people  who  do  not  wear  head 
coverings.  All  theater-goers  are  expected  to  leave  their 
hats  at  home  or  remove  them  before  the  play  begins. 


We  have  a  bright  and  up-to-date  niini.sler  in  this  city 
who  requested  the  ladies  of  his  conj:»'rc)::jation  to  remove 
their  hats  during  service,  and  I  iindcrsland  this  is  the  com- 
mon custom  in  the  largest  cluuchcs  of  Portland.  It  is  a 
sensible  request,  for  who  wants  to  sit  behind  one  of  those 
hats  that  spreads  half  across  the  pew,  while  a  long  feather 
or  spray  of  flowers  keeps  nodding  in  your  face,  completely 
shutting  out  the  speaker  from  view  ? 

Madame  says :  "If  it  is  the  intention  of  the  followers  of 
the  uncovered-head  fad  to  give  their  hair  a  bath  in  the 
sunlight,  let  them  find  a  nook  in  their  home,  where  they 
can  sit  and  enjoy  the  rays  of  the  sun  in  seclusion."  Pretty 
advice  this,  but  where  is  the  nook  and  where  is  the  time? 
Again,  everybody  does  not  enjoy  seclusion.  It  is  a  real 
pleasure  to  feel  that  you  can  call  upon  a  neighbor  or  run 
down  town  to  the  store  and  not  be  compelled  to  stop  five, 
ten  or  fifteen  minutes  to  arrange  your  hair  to  suit  your 
hat,  and  to  be  sure  every  pin  is  placed  so  that  it  will  not 
be  lop-sided.  Public  opinion  would  not  have  permitted  this 
a  few  years  ago.  The  busy  mother  and  housewife  was 
compelled  to  don  her  hat  under  all  conditions.  And  how 
many  scenes  like  this  have  occurred.  In  great  haste  the 
precious  hat  is  snatched  from  the  bandbox  and  pinned  on, 
while  several  tots  are  pulling  at  her  dress,  promising  to  be 
good  and  rock  the  baby  if  she  will  bring  them  candy.  She 
rushes  to  the  store,  finds  it  full,  must  wait.  Home  again, 
finds  the  baby  crying,  and  beans  dry  and  burning.  She 
runs  to  the  bureau  to  remove  her  hat,  amid  the  clamor  for 
candy,  and,  to  her  horror  and  disgust,  finds  she  has  been 
down  in  town  with  her  hat  on  wrong  side  before.     This 

accounts  for  that  broad  smile  Airs. gave  her.    Whom 

had  she  seen?  Everbody,  yes,  everybody.  Oh.  dear,  dear, 
everything  goes  wrong.  Dinner  late :  husband  will  be  here 
any  minute :  hair  all  mussed,  and  such  confusion !  She  feels 
that  she  is  threatened  with,  nervous  prostration.  This  is  not 
an  overdrawn  picture. 


526  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

Let  me  tell  you  my  experience  of  twenty-four  years  ago. 
I  had  a  hysterical  patient  in  South  Portland,  who  gave  me 
a  good  deal  of  worry.  One  bright  morning  my  reception- 
room  was  well  filled  with  ladies,  and  I  was  rushing  to  get 
through.     I  heard  the  office  girl  say: 

"The  doctor  will  be  out  in  a  few  minutes,"  But  a 
man's  voice  replied :    "I  must  see  her  at  once." 

I  stepped  to  the  door.  The  husband  of  the  aforesaid 
patient  said:  'T  fear  my  wife  is  dying;  you  must  come  at 
once."  I  replied:  ^'Oh,  no,  she  is  not  dying."  He  exclaimed: 
''You  must  come  at  once,  or  I  will  get  another  doctor." 
"Well,"  I  said,  "go  and  bring  my  rig."  He  was  back  all 
too  soon. 

"Now,  how  many  of  you  ladies  can  wait  till  I  get  back  ? 
I'll  not  be  long,"  I  said ;  and  to  the  man :  "Get  in  the  buggy, 
and  be  all  ready,  so  I  will  not  be  detained." 

I  finished  with  the  last  hurry  patient,  and,  seizing  my 
case,  I  rushed  downstairs  and  sprang  in,  and  taking  the 
reins  I  said  "Go"  to  my  good  horse,  Frank,  wRo  was  al- 
ways ready  to  obey  that  order. 

Just  beyond  First  street  bridge  I  saw  two  of  my  sisters 
coming.  When  they  saw  me,  they  rushed  to  the  curb,  and 
as  I  saw  they  were  in  great  distress  I  stopped,  saying: 
"What  is  the  matter?" 

One  of  them  said:  "Where  is  your  hat?"  I  said  "Go" 
to  my  horse,  and  turning  to  the  man  at  my  side  I  asked: 
"Why  didn't  you  tell  me  I  was  bareheaded?" 

The  distressed  expression  on  his  face  as  he  was  holding 
on  to  prevent  being  thrown  out  by  my  reckless  driving 
brought  the  ludicrous  side  of  the  picture  to  view,  and  I 
laughed  till  we  reached  our  destination.  I  found  my  patient 
not  dead,  gave  her  a  good  "dope"  and  left  her  medicine  to 
be  taken  every  ten  minutes  till  relieved,  borrowed  an  old  hat 
to  save  my  reputation,  and  rushed  back  to  my  office.  I 
expected  to  receive  a  free  advertisement  the  next  day,  but 


SoMi:  DP   1  I|';k  Kill';  Ivxim^rirnces.  527 

fortunately  for  mc,  cartoonists  were  not  numerous  in  those 
days.  Our  own  Homer  Davenport  was  not  known  to  the 
world  of  fame.  He  was  occupied  about  that  time  with  big 
lumps  of  chalk  and  a  can  of  whitewash  decorating  board 
fences,    barns    and   outhouses. 

I  should  not  have  taken  the  time  to  reply  to  madame's 
war  notes  had  I  not  been  urged  to  do  so  by  several  indig- 
nant ladies  of  this  place. 

,  Dr.  Ov^ens-Adair. 

DR.   ADAIR's  surgical  WORK. 

As  a  matter  of  record  I  feel  it  incumbent  on  me  to  give 
the  public  dates  of  some  of  my  earliest  surgical  operations. 

My  first  plastic  work  was  for  Mrs.  A.  F.  Brown,  of  Oak- 
land, Oregon,  in  August,  1881.  Dr.  Carpenter,  professor 
of  surgery  in  Willamette  University,  administered  chloro- 
form, Dr.  Cardwell  assisting.  For  that  operation  I  received 
one  hundred  dollars  in  gold  twenty-dollar  pieces.  I  believe 
that  was  the  first  personal  perineal  operation  performed 
in  Oregon  by  a  woman,  and  I  distinctly  recall  Dr.  Card- 
well's  remark  at  the  time. 

"Well,  Doctor,  we  men  must  look  to  our  laurels  when  we 
see  a  woman  do  such  skillful  work  as  this." 

That  case  brought  me  wide  notoriety,  not,  however,  in 
the  same  sense  as  did  the  autopsy  case  of  seven  years  be- 
fore, for  this  patient  was  well  and  favorably  known,  and 
public  opinion  has  marvelously  changed  toward  "she- 
doctors." 

My  next  case  was  a  Mrs.  Kent,  of  Portland,  Oregon, 
soon  after.  Dr.  C.  C.  Strong  administered  the  anaesthetic. 
She,  too,  was  a  grateful  patient,  often  saying:  "I  don't 
pretend  to  be  a  very  good  Christian,  but  I  do  think  the 
most  Christian  act  I  can  perform  is  to  hunt  up  other  poor, 
miserable  women  and  get  them  to  go  to  Dr.  Owens  and 
let   her   perform   an   operation   that   will   give   them   some 


528  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

comfort  in  this  world,"  and  she  was  as  good  as  her  word, 
and  brought  me  many  patients. 

Surgery  in  those  days  was.  not  so  common  as  now,  and 
a  woman  surgeon  was  rare  indeed.  My  esteemed  friend, 
Dr.  G.  M.  Wells,  has  assisted  me  in  many  operations.  In 
December,  1886,  I  was  called  by  Dr.  August  C.  Kinney  to 
Astoria  to  operate  on  Mrs.  Ward  for  complete  procidentia. 

After  moving  to  North  Yakima,  Wash.,  I  did  a  great 
deal  of  surgical  work.  For  Mrs.  S.  B.  Smith,  of  Clatsop, 
who  came  to  be  at  North  Yakima  for  medical  assistance,  I 
removed  the  entire  mammary  gland,  including  three  can- 
cerous growths  (one  as  large  as  a  hen's  egg)  from  the 
axilla.  Dr.  Fletcher  administered  the  anaesthetic,  Dr.  T. 
B.  Gunn  assisting.  On  our  way  home  Dr.  Gunn  said: 
"Doctor,  do  you  know  you  "have  performed  a  major  opera- 
tion?" 

Later  Dr.  J.  A.  Fulton,  of  Astoria  (to  whom  I  had  sent 
Mrs.  Smith  for  any  needed  advice),  laughingly  said:  "The 
idea  of  your  doing  that  operation !" 

"Why?     Don't  you  think  it  ought  to  have  been  done?" 

"Yes,  of  course,  but  I  never  thought  you  would  have 
tackled  such  a  job  as  that." 

From  surgery  has  come  a  large  part  of  my  income  from 
my  professional  work,  and  it  is  the  branch  which  I  best 
love.  Had  I  not  taken  upon  myself  matrimony  and  mother- 
hood I  would  have  continued  to  drink  at  Europe's  and 
American's  freshest  fountains  of  surgical  knowledge  until 
I  should  have  gained  the  confidence  to  stand  beside  any 
surgeon  in  the  land.  This  is  no  idle  boast,  for  the  two 
principal  requisites  of  a  first-class  surgeon  are,  first,  knowl- 
edge, and,  second,  confidence  in  his  ability  to  put  it  into 
practice. 

This  recalls  what  Professor  McLean  of  the  University 
of  Michigan  once  said  in  the  lecture  room : 

"Medicine   and   surgery  may,   as   a  whole,   be  compared 


S(;me  of  lIi'K  Lii'i';  Ivxim^kiences.  ^21) 

to  a  house  of  many  rooms.  Surgery  is  the  parlor,  wherein 
.you  will  find  the  most  valuable  and  sacred  contents  of  the 
house." 

If  the  Death  Angel  defers  his  call  on  me  for  a  few  years 
more  I  shall  endeavor  to  compile  a  small  book  from  the 
gleanings  of  my  thirty  odd  years  of  practice,  which  may 
be  of  some  value  to  Oregon  in  contrasting  the  work  of  the 
early  pioneer  doctor  with  that  of  the  physician  of  modern 
times,  especially  showing  the  immense  forward  strides 
taken  by  surgery. 

PIONEER  CITIZEN  RETURNS  TO  THE  HOME  OF  HER  YOUTH — DK. 

OWENS-ADAIR  AGAIN   AT  SUNNYME.\D  FARM,  NEAR 

WARRENTON — ABSENT     SEVEN     YEARS. 

The  local  world  of  Astoria  will  find  pleasure  in  the  an- 
nouncement that  Mrs.  Dr.  Owens-Adair,  with  her  husband, 
Col.  John  Adair,  is  again  comfortably  installed  at  the  family 
home  on  Sunnymead  farm,  after  an  absence  of  seven  years 
in  North  Yakima,  Wash.,  where  she  practiced  her  profes- 
sion with  constant  success  and  made  worlds  of  friends. 
Dr.  Adair  will  remain  at  Sunnymead  for  some  little  time, 
until  weather  conditions  become  more  propitious,  when  she 
will  leave  for  Southern  California,  where  she  will  remain 
until  she  has  finished  the  chosen  task  of  her  later  years, 
that  of  writing  a  book,  biographical  and  historical  in  char- 
acter, and  as  wide  as  the  state  in  scope,  and  including  much 
of  her  life  in  this  city  and  county,  all  closely  interwoven 
with  the  lives  of  other  prominent  pioneer  families  of  this 
section.  The  following  excerpts  from  the  Yakima  press 
will  best  serve  to  tell  those  who  know  and  admire  this 
sturdy  and  accomplished  lady  of  her  experiences  there,  and 
of  all  she  accomplished  professionally  and  socially. 
The  Yakima  Herald,  in  a  recent  issue,  says : 
"After  over  thirty  years  spent  in  the  practice  of  med- 
icine. Dr.  Owens-Adair  announces  her  intention  of  retiring 


530  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

and  taking"  a  well-earned  rest.  Dr.  Adair  is  the  only  woman 
physician  in  this  city,  and  she  has  built  up  a  large  practice 
during  the  six  or  seven  years  she  has  resided  in  North 
Yakima.  She  will  spend  the  remainder  of  her  years  on 
her  Sunnymead  farm  of  several  hundred  acres  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Columbia  river,  where  every  boat  that  enters 
the  river  and  every  pound  of  freight  that  goes  to  the  ocean 
must  pass  her  doors.  Mrs.  Adair  believes  she  has  earned 
a  rest  from  the  activities  of  her  professional  life,  and  she 
knows  of  no  more  attractive  place  than  the  old  farm  to  re- 
cuperate. The  doctor  still  holds  considerable  Yakima 
realty,  which  she  believes  gilt-edged  as  an  investment.  The 
best  wishes  of  a  host  of  warm  friend  here  will  go  with  her." 

And  the  Daily  Republic  speaks  no  less  kindly  when  it 
says : 

"Dr.  Owens-Adair  has  informed  the  Republic  that  she 
will  close  her  office  and  retire  from  business  here  October 
10.  Dr.  Adair  has  been  in  active  practice  for  over  thirty 
years,  having  been  the  first  woman  graduate  in  medicine 
in  both  Oregon  and  Washington.  She  has  practiced  in 
both  states  since  the  early  '70s. 

"It  is  the  doctor's  intention  to  devote  the  remainder  of 
her  life  to  literary  work,  and  she  hopes  to  have  her  first 
book  for  the  press  by  early  next  spring,  when  she  will  re- 
turn to  her  home  in  Clatsop  County,  Oregon.  The  doctor 
will  remain  with  her  son,  Dr.  Hill,  till  the  morning  of  the 
14th.  After  a  visit  of  a  month  with  Col.  Adair  and  their 
son  John  at  their  ranch  she  will  go  to  San  Diego,  Cal. 

''On  the  eve  of  her  departure  from  North  Yakima  Dr. 
Adair  was  the  guest  of  honor  at  a  splendid  banquet  given 
by  the  order  of  the  Eastern  Star,  as  represented  at  that 
place,  and  was  made  the  recipient  of  a  superb  gold  pen 
from  the  lodge  as  a  testimonial  of  the  high  estimate  in  which 
she  was  held  in  that  city. 

"Mrs.  Adair  may  well  use  this  suggestive  gift  in  the 
new  volume  she  is  about  to  write,  thus  giving  a  host  of 
others  some  share  in  the  beauty  and  utility  of  the  gift." 


Some  of  1  Ti'.k  ] jvi:  R.xi'Kkiences.  531 


CHAPTER  XL. 

THE    FIRST    RECOGNITION    OF     WOMEN     PHYSICIANS    BY    THE 

AMERICAN     MEDICAL    ASSOCIATION — THE 

WOMEN    WILL    ENTERTAIN. 

A  unique  feature  in  the  series  of  entertainments  to  be 
given  during  the  visit  of  the  A.  M.  A.  to  Portland  will 
be  the  banquet  to  the  women  physicians  in  attendance  un- 
der the  auspices  of  the  Portland  Medical  Club.  This  ban- 
quet will  take  place  at  the  Hotel  Portland  on  the  evening 
of  July  12.     (1905.) 

This  is  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the  sessions  of 
the  A.  M.  A.  that  the  women  have  had  a  distinct  recogni- 
tion. It  certainly  marks  a  step  in  the  progress  of  the  asso- 
ciation. It  is  worthy  of  note  that  it  occurs  at  the  Portland 
meeting,  and  at  the  suggestion  of  the  women  physicians 
of  this  city.  It  is  another  instance  of  the  West  setting  the 
pace  and  establishing  precedents  for  the  rest  of  the  country 
to  follow.  We  may  expect,  hereafter,  to  see  such  recogni- 
tion a  regular  thing  at  the  A.  M.  A.  meetings  wherever 
held. 

I  take  great  pleasure  in  giving  space  to  the  above  from  the 
Oregon  Medical  Sentinel  of  July  12th,  1905.  It  speaks  vol- 
umes in  contrasting  the  standing  of  the  professional  woman 
of  today  with  the  standing,  or  the  lack  of  it,  of  a  genera- 
tion ago. 

I  had  the  honor  of  attending  the  banquet  referred  to  by 
the  Sentinel,  which  far  excelled  anything  of  the  kind  in  my 
previous  experience.  A  most  remarkable  feature  of  this  ban- 
quet was  the  absence  of  wines  and  cigars.  Pure,  cold  water 
and  tiny  cups  of  coffee  were  the  beverages  which  slaked  the 
thirst,  and  calmed  the  nerve-centers  of  the  ladv  ]\I.  D.'s,  and 


532  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

enabled  them  to  suitably  respond  to  toasts  presented  by  our 
own  Dr.  Mae  Cardwell,  whose  name,  so  well  known  at  home 
and  abroad,  assures  success  in  whatever  she  undertakes. 

The  banquet  was  a  triumph  of  the  twentieth  century  art, 
taste  and  genius.  Words  are  inadequate  to  do  it  justice. 
The  tables  were  literally  banked  with  smilax  and  fragrant 
and  gorgeous  flowers,  which  also  formed  a  canopy  overhead, 
and  among  which  thickly  sparkled  countless  tiny  electric 
lights,  whose  soft,  heaven-lighted  rays  twinkled  and  scintil- 
lated like  radiant  star-jewels.  The  tables  were  presided  over 
by  men  in  swallow-tailed  coats,  and  kid  gloves, — the  only 
members  of  their  sex  privileged  to  be  present. 

The  California  Poppy,  the  Oregon  Grape,  and  the  Wash- 
ington Rhododendron,  were  commingled  in  artistic  deco- 
ration, representing  the  united  interests  of  the  three  great 
commonwealths,  and  eloquently  voicing  in  sweet  flower  lan- 
guage, a  cordial  welcome  from  each  to  all. 

Most  of  the  ladies  present  were  in  full  dress,  white,  so 
beautiful  and  becoming  to  young  and  old,  and  so  much  worn 
at  the  present  time,  prevailing  in  the  exquisite  costumes. 
Mine  was  of  white,  with  a  corsage  bouquet  of  white  sweet 
peas,  my  favorite  flowers.  One  of  my  colleagues  said, 
"Why,  Doctor,  you  look  like  a  bride!" 

'T  feel  like  one,"  I  responded.  "For  this  day,  in  which 
I  behold  the  full  fruition  of  all  our  labors,  is  the  happiest  of 
my  life.  I  thank  God  that  I  have  been  spared  to  see  this 
day,  when  women  are  acknowledged  before  the  world  as 
the  eqvial  of  men  in  medicine  and  surgery ;  and,  above  all, 
that  my  own  Oregon  is  in  the  forefront  of  this  grand  for- 
ward movement." 

By  special  invitation,  the  professions  of  the  Pulpit,  Press, 
Law  and  Medicine,  were  each  represented  by  a  woman  prom- 
inent in  her  chosen  life-work. 

After  our  physical  needs  were  satisfied  by  the  delicious 
viands  so  profusely  provided,  our  glasses  were  re-filled  with 


SoMK  oi'  lli:i<  l.ii'j':  Exi'iiKiriNCKS.  533 

the  sparkling-  dew  of  Heaven,  and  llicn  ])e^an  "The  feast  of 
reason,  and  the  flow  of  soul." 

Our  accomplished  toast-mistress  then  stei)ped  within  the 
charmed  circle,  and  sprung;-  a  surjjrise  upon  us,  for,  as  no 
one  had  been  requested  beforehand  to  prepare  to  respond  to 
a  toast,  no  one  was  prepared  to  be  called  on,  for  that  pur- 
pose. After  the  address  of  welcome,  the  toast  of  "Oregon" 
was  announced,  and  I  was  called  on  for  the  response !  To 
use  a  slang"  phrase,  I  was  "floored,"  and  had.  to  receive  a 
second  call  before  T  could  "pull  myself  together,"  and  get 
on  my  feet.  Naturally  deficient  in  extemporaneous  speaking, 
especially  in  the  presence  of  such  an  august  body,  with 
assembly-room,  doors,  and  passageways  a  sea  of  faces,  I 
was  for  a  moment  speechless ;  but,  inspired  by  the  intelli- 
gence and  beauty  around  me,  and  the  products  of  our  ever- 
green states  in  such  lavish  profusion,  my  thoughts  began  to 
take  form,  and  I  said,  in  substance: 

'  "We  are  here  to  do  honor  to  Lewis  and  Clark,  and  to 
celebrate  their  inestimable  services  in  exploring  this  great 
Northwest  Coast,  and  all  honor  is  certainly  their  due ;  and 
yet, — that  pregnant  'yet,' — had  it  not  been  for  a  woman — 
the  Princess  Sacajawea — who  knows  if  ever  they  could 
have  succeeded  in  their  momentous  quest?  Sacajawea,  who, 
bearing  her  babe  on  her  shoulders,  with  unfaltering  strength, 
courage,  and  fidelity,  guided  those  intrepid  men  steadily  and 
unerringly  all  the  long  journey,  protecting  them  by  her  pres- 
ence and  explanations,  from  the  savage  tribes  on  the  way, 
even  to  the  ver}^  verge  of,  the  Pacific,  which  was  as  strange 
to  her  as  to  them,  remaining,  and  acting  as  a  safeguard  on 
their  return  trip  also !  Truly,  we  can  say  that  woman  had 
a  vital  part  in  the  very  beginning,  as  well  as  in  the  later 
destiny  of  this  great  Northwest  Empire!" 

Many,  very  many,  were  the  beautiful  and  graceful  senti- 
ments evoked  by  the  toasts  proposed  at  that  memorable  ban- 
quet, none  of  which  were  better  than  those  of  Rev.  Anna 


534  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

Shaw,    the   first   woman   ordained   minister    in   the   United 
States,  and  perhaps  in  the  world.    She  said,  in  part: 

"I  have  been  travehng  on  the  trail  all  my  life.  It  was 
the  blazing  of  the  first  trails  that  has  been  the  hardest  work, 
and  the  travelers  in  them  were  few  for  many  difficult  and 
lonely  years,  but  the  road  has  widened,  and  straightened, 
and  the  travelers  in  it  have  increased,  until  now  it  has  be- 
come a  broad,  smooth  highway,  in  which  the  untrammeled 
women  of  our  own  country,  and  ultimately  of  all  nations, 
may  freely  and  gladly  walk." 

ON    THE   TRAIL. 

(Tune,  ^'Maryland,  My  Maryland.") 
We're  going  down  to  Portland  Town, 

Oregon,  our  Oregon. 
We're  going  there  to  see  the  Fair, 

Oregon,  our  Oregon. 
We'll  don  our  best,  and  banish  care ; 
We'll  take  our  time,  and  cash  to  spare ; 
Our  folks  and  friends  will  all  be  there ; 

Oregon,  our  Oregon. 

They've  asked  us  all ;  we've  heard  the  call, 

Oregon,  our  Oregon; 
We'll  hit  the  trail,  by  boat  and  rail, 

Oregon,  our  Oregon. 
We'll  join  the  throng,  by  boat  and  rail. 
That  starts  next  June  upon  the  trail; 
We've  planned  to  go ;  we  will  not  fail ; 

Oregon,  our  Oregon. 

Lewis  and  Clark,  those  men  of  mark. 

Saw  Oregon,  far  Oregon, 
With  vision  clear,  and  journeyed  here 

To  Oregon,  fair  Oregon. 
Through  trackless  wastes,  and  forests  drear — 
Wild  beast  and  savage  lurking  near, — 
They  traveled  far,  but  rested  here. 

In  Oregon,  bright  Oregon. 


Some  of  IIi:k  I.ifi':  Experiences.  63" 

Their  moviiii^  talc,  their  matchless  grail, 

Oregon,  our  Oregon, 
Our  children  hear,  with  smile  and  tear, 

Oregon,  our  Oregon. 
With  kindling  eye,  and  eager  ear, 
The  busy  millions,  far  and  near, 
Thy  wondrous  story  pause  to  hear, 

Oregon,  our  Oregon. 

Our  fathers  trod  the  path  they  blazed, 

Oregon,  our  Oregon, 
And  here  their  household  altars  raised 

In  Oregon,  their  Oregon. 
They  gave  their  best ;  to  us  they  gave 
This  land  beside  Pacific's  wave, — 
The  land  that  never  bore  a  slave, 

Oregon,  free  Oregon. 

A  hundred  years,  a  hundred  years ! 

Oregon,  our  Oregon, 
Since  first  those  brave  old  pioneers  ^     . 

Saw  Oregon,  our  Oregon! 
They  sowed  in  toil,  and  blood,  and  tears, 
A  harvest  rich  for  future  years. 
Their  deeds  their  names  and  thine  endears, 

Oregon,  loved  Oregon. 

The  East  and  West,  as  host  and  guest, 

Oregon,  our  Oregon, 
Shall  meet,  and  grasp,  in  friendly  clasp, 

Oregon,  our  Oregon, 
Warm  hands  of  welcome,  binding  fast 
The  future  bright,  and  storied  past. 
In  links  that  shall  unriven  last, 

Oregon,  our  Oregon. 


536  Dr.  Owens  -  Adair. 

The  world  shall  pour  its  treasure  store, 

Oregon,  our  Oregon, 
From  mart  and  mine,  from  bough  and  vine, 

For  Oregon,  our  Oregon. 
So  all  the  world  shall  welcome  be 
To  come  and  hear,  and  taste,  and  see 
What  charms  each  sense  is  found  in  thee, 

Oregon,  blest  Oregon. 

Inez  E.  Parker. 

the  progress  of  women. 

(By  Lydia  Kingsmill  Commander,  "Scrap  Book.") 
"Nothing  is  more  wonderful  in  this  age  of  wonders  than 
the  progress  of  women  in  all  the  civilized  countries  of  the 
world.    Never  before  were  the  doors  of  opportunity  so  widely 
opened ;  never  before  were  the  barriers  of  sex  so  low. 

"The  last  census  shows  that  in  the  United  States  women 
are  following  every  trade  and  profession  except  the  Army 
and  Navy,  and  even  the  Navy  has  a  woman  physician,  Dr. 
Anna  McGee,  who  wears  a  uniform.  In  Europe  the  uni- 
iforraed  woman  is  by  no  means  a  rarity.  Almost  every  royal 
woman  wears  military  honors.  It  will  be  remembered  that 
Queen  Victoria  was  carried  to  her  grave  on  a  gun-carriage, 
like  an  officer,  because,  as  Queen  of  England  and  Empress 
of  India,  she  was  the  head  of  the  British  army,  and  of  the 
greatest  navy  in  the  world. 

"To  have  an  occupation  is  almost  as  natural  to  the  Ameri- 
can girl  of  today  as  to  her  brother.  For  a  woman  to  go  into 
business  used  to  be  like  climbing  a  mountain  ;  now  it  is  almost 
like  going  down  a  toboggan-slide.  When  she  leaves  school, 
she  expects  to  work.  Sometimes  she  finishes  her  education  in 
the  public  school,  and  goes  into  a  shop,  factory,  or  mill.  She 
may  become  one  of  the  75,000  milliners,  the  100,000  sales- 
women, the  120,000  cotton  workers,  the  875,000  laundresses, 
or  the  340,000  dressmakers. 


Some  of  IIi:i<  Life  Experiences.  o37 

"If  she  stuy  longer  in  .school,  she  may  become  one  of  the 
320,000  school  teachers.  Or  she  may  go  to  a  college  which 
sternly  closed  its  doors  in  the  face  of  her  g-randmothcr,  and 
carry  off  the  prizes  and  honors  from  the  men.  She  can  enter 
a  university,  come  out  a  R.  A.,  M.  A.,  or  IMi.  D.,  anrl  join 
the  thousand  women  who  are  already  college  professors. 

"If  she  fancies  law,  medicine,  or  the  church,  her  way  is 
clear.  All  three  professions  number  their  women  members 
by  the  thousand,  though  a  generation  ago  the  pioneers  in 
each  line  were  struggling  against  ridicule  and  bitter  oppo- 
sition. 

"Even  the  more  unusual  occupations  are  well  represented. 
There  are  3G1  wholesale  merchants,  1,871  officials  in  banks, 
1,932  stock-raisers,  378  butchers,  and  193  blacksmiths,  all 
women. 

"The  traveling  public  depends  for  its  safety  (and  its  acci- 
dents) principally  upon  men  ;  but  women  already  claim  2 
motormen,  13  conductors,  4  station  agents,  2  pilots,  1  light- 
house keeper,  127  engineers,  and  153  boatmen  among  their 
number. 

"Almost  every  paper  one  picks  up  tells  of  women's  suc- 
cesses in  some  line  of  work.  The  product  of  her  brain  and 
pen  have  long  blessed  the  world.  A  dozen  women  in  Chi- 
cago, and  probably  three  times  as  many  in  New  York,  are 
making  $10,000  a  year  or  more,  either  as  salaries,  or  profits 
from  business.  It  is  said  that  Hetty  Green,  the  shrewdest 
business  woman  in  the  world,  can  stand  in  City  Hall  Square, 
New  York,  and  see  five  millions  of  dollars'  worth  of  her  own 
property ;  and  every  one  knows  she  owes  her  millions  to  her 
own  cleverness,  and  not  to  either  father,  husband,  son  or 
brother. 

THE  END. 


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